Washington County planners find Salem�Local Law No. 3 (ban on commercial battery storage) a matter of local concern

The Washington County Planning Agency reviewed Town of SalemLocal Law No. 3, described in the minutes as "Prohibiting Commercial Battery Energy Storage Systems within the Town of Salem." Colleen Nelson, senior planner with the Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board, moved that the agency find the proposed local law to be a matter of "essentially local concern." Dave O'Brien, Town of Hampton Supervisor and chairperson of the Agriculture, Planning, Tourism and Community Development Committee, seconded the motion. The minutes record the vote as Ayes 2, Nayes 0, Abstentions 0.

The board noted a specific request in its comments that the town consider including definitions of project types in the law. The minutes do not record further discussion or technical details about prohibited system sizes, setbacks, or permitting processes; the item is listed as "Project under Town of Salem Town Board consideration for Adoption of Local Law." Next steps in the public record are left to the Town of Salem Town Board, which — according to the minutes — is the adopting body under consideration.