The Henderson City-County Planning Commission unanimously approved a recommendation to extend a proposed one-year moratorium on battery energy storage systems to two years.
The planning commission’s recommendation also includes language that the two-year timeframe would begin once the Henderson County Fiscal Court approves the moratorium, which could push the start of the clock back to April or May.
The recommendation now goes to the fiscal court, which will determine if it wants to accept the two-year moratorium, keep its initial proposal for a one-year moratorium or do something different.
The fiscal court in January passed a resolution for a one-year BESS moratorium, after it had voted to start the process for putting that in place at a December meeting. The fiscal court then directed the planning commission to hold a public hearing regarding the moratorium and make a recommendation about it.
It’s been continued work for Airline Road resident Deirdre McConathy to push for and gain a BESS moratorium. She’s spoken frequently at past fiscal court meetings in support of a BESS moratorium, and she again spoke Tuesday at the planning commission meeting in favor that the moratorium’s length is increased to two years.
McConathy’s family farm abuts a plot of land that had been a planned location of a BESS. The company pursuing that dropped its plans in December.
She said she was in favor of the extension because gathering the information about BESS and meeting with experts takes time. Planning Commission Chair David Dixon said the purpose of the moratorium is to have more time to “amend or rewrite the current (BESS) ordinance.” McConathy agreed.
The day after the recommendation, a nearby neighbor of McConathy who has also been pursuing a BESS moratorium made a statement. In part, James Franks’ statement says, “…I am proud of our local leadership and the Planning and Zoning Commission for treating this threat with the seriousness it deserves. Their recommendation for a two-year pause will allow a thorough review of flaws in the existing ordinance. Protecting the health, safety, and property of the community remains my top priority…”
Franks, who like McConathy has been a vocal opponent of BESS in the county, is running against current District 2 Magistrate Taylor Tompkins, who made the initial motion for a BESS moratorium at the Dec. 23 fiscal court meeting.