Planning commission approves 400 MW Comstock battery project with conditions after hours of fire-safety debate

The Charter Township of Comstock Planning Commission voted to approve a 400-megawatt battery energy storage project, finding the special land use standards and the township’s battery ordinance standards satisfied and granting site-plan approval. The commission attached a suite of pre-construction conditions including an approved emergency response plan, a recorded decommissioning agreement with a surety bond and county drainage approvals.

Commissioners debated safety and community benefits for several hours. The commission recorded a 5–1 roll-call on the special-land-use findings and later approved ordinance standards and the site plan unanimously (6–0). Planner Kyle told the commission the applicant will still need to satisfy decommissioning, development and building-permit prerequisites before construction begins. One of the conditions requires the applicant to obtain final written approval from the fire chief on the fire-response plan and to provide first-responder training at the applicant’s cost.