Fabius Township Planning Commission chair Randy Schmeling discusses a proposed ordinance amendment allowing for battery storage facilities under the township’s solar ordinance during the commission’s meeting Wednesday, Jan. 15.
By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
FABIUS TWP. — A proposed amendment to Fabius Township’s solar ordinance could help open the door for an in-the-works solar energy project in the township.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Fabius Township Planning Commission recommended for approval an amendment to the ordinance that would allow for battery storage systems to be used with large-scale solar energy projects.
The amendment is not yet part of the ordinance, as it would also have to be recommended by the St. Joseph County Planning Commission before it goes to the Fabius Township board, which it is expected to take it up in February.
If the amendment is ultimately approved, it would open the door for a new component of solar energy projects into the township, and it could also help out an in-the-works project from EDP Renewables that would be partially in the township and include solar energy and battery storage, which they are anticipated to submit an application for in the next few months.
The ordinance amendment, as recommended, states that “battery energy storage systems” (BESS) would be considered a component of a solar energy system, cannot exceed a height of 15 feet, follow standards for installation set by the Michigan Public Service Commission, and have electrical wiring buried underground, except for transmission or distribution lines for connecting to the power grid, among other requirements. Such a system may also be expanded without the need for a site plan as long as it is within the same project footprint as the original permit.
The amendment also defines BESS as “one or more devices, assembled together, capable of and used to store excess energy generated from the Solar Energy System in order to supply electrical energy at a future time, not to include a stand-alone 12-volt car battery, an electric motor vehicle, or small store-bought batteries designed and used purely for household electric items.”
Zoning Administrator Doug Kuhlman told board members during a public hearing on the subject that they had a couple options, make the amendment or do nothing, with the latter option potentially meaning that EDP could go to the state to get approval for its project and bypass the township.
In addition, Kuhlman said there had been a “surge” of questions asked recently by companies about battery storage in the area, among other items, which was also an impetus for putting together an amendment.
“I get some because of the number of municipalities I represent, but emails are going around, ‘Do you have a solar ordinance,’ ‘Do you have a battery storage ordinance,’ ‘Do you have a wind ordinance,’ ‘Do you have an overlay district,’ ‘Do you have a moratorium,’” Kuhlman said.
Kuhlman noted that there could be money available from the state for working with renewable energy for projects, such as solar and battery storage, which could see the township possibly receiving $750,000 in what he said was “almost an unrestricted” funding. He ultimately recommended approving the ordinance amendment.
Planning Commissioner and township board member Judy Holman said the township needs to “get this [amendment] taken care of” and recommend it for approval. However, prior to the vote, commission chair Randy Schmeling had some questions about an emergency response plan for if there’s a fire with the battery storage, and whether or not local fire departments would get training from an applicant, such as EDP, to handle such events.
“It doesn’t specify that specifically [in the ordinance], so I don’t know whether that’s something to put in there specifically,” Schmeling said. Kuhlman said he recommended approving the recommendation “with the potential of adding that section,” and then consulting with the township’s attorney to see if it can be added, and if so, add it in before sending it to the county planning commission.
Ali Stano, a senior development manager at EDP Renewables, said later on in the meeting during public comment that emergency response training is something they usually do either way.
“Our operations team requires it, and it’s a standard safety measure that we do at our projects,” Stano said.
Overall, though, Schmeling said the amendment was “pretty straightforward.” The recommendation was approved unanimously.
If the amendment ultimately gets approved by the township board, it may not be the last renewable energy-related ordinance that could be discussed in the township. Kuhlman said that there has also been an increase in questions about wind energy, which given new technology in that sector and it being part of Michigan’s recent renewable energy push, could possibly lead to the Planning Commission looking into a wind energy ordinance in the future. However, there were no indication there were any impending projects being proposed in the township in that sector.
Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com.
