Please support this bill. Battery storage goes hand in hand with renewable energy sources. Solar is safe, solar on agriculture land allows the land to also be grazed by sheep or used to grow hay or used to grow pollinator plants for commercial honey production or even low growing high value perennial crops like strawberries and low bush blueberries. Modern batteries are safe. This bill will give localities expertise to fall back on in terms of reliable standards for locating energy storage projects. Most localities have appropriate areas like industrial parks for these projects. Or on site with a solar project or electrical substations. Renewables are modern reliable technology. And battery projects are also modern reliable technology. Please support this bill to provide needed guidance to localities and clear up the misinformation about battery storage

I oppose any and all bills that would advance solar projects. Any solar project has significant potential consequences but those with battery storage are even more likely to cause serious issues. Battery fires are almost impossible to stop and control. Solar projects as a whole do long term significant damage to the land where they are located leaving the land sterile and unusable long after the 35 year life span of the project. Ground water ( well water) contamination is a very serious and real possibility.

BESS siting is a land use decision. Land use decisions should be made at the local not the state level. Local Boards of Supervisors are better equipped to decide where BESS is located in their County as they are familiar with the natural environment and the fire dangers and risk relative to the local environment when considering BESS projects. The projects should not be forced upon localities. They should be placed in areas that are not dangerous to people, timberland, and agriculture. In most cases locals believe that if they are approved BESS should be located in Industrial areas not agricultural.