With proposals for battery energy storage systems (BESS) appearing to come out of the woodwork across the state, the City of Holland is preparing for the inevitable.
 
Senior City Planner Steve Peterson said at the Planning Commission Study Session on March 10, that following the City’s model ordinance, he’s been working on adding permitting for BESS. If a project application is submitted, there will be a clear path for everyone to use.
 
Since BESS aren’t always a whole field of containers, as Peterson explained, the ordinance also will cover battery storage residents might use in their homes. In addition to their size, what the BESS will be used to power will determine how they are permitted and the allowable zoning districts.
 
Battery storage used to power a home or commercial business would be categorized as “accessory use,” just as solar panels are. An accessory-use BESS would be permitted in all zoning districts and would require a 25-foot setback.
 
One of BPW's substations is on the far southeast side of Holland in a low-density residential zone district. Adding a BESS to that substation would be categorized as accessory use, since it would be storing energy for that particular substation. However, the setback restriction would be adjusted to follow the fire code.
 
“Principal use” would be the term for systems storing energy for more than an adjacent facility. These BESS would be permitted as Special Land Use, allowed only in industrial zoning districts and with a 300-foot setback requirement from any residential home or occupancy building—just as for solar.

A substation falls under Essential Services and is exempt from restricted zoning. Peterson stressed that whatever rules the Planning Commission decides on, should not cause BPW any issues.
 
Holland BPW General Manager Dave Costner was present at the meeting. He thought it was important for the Commission to understand that while BPW is actively looking at opportunities for smaller scale BESS, there may be others looking as well because of the proximity to larger interconnections to high voltage systems inside the City of Holland. Costner encouraged the commissioners to make sure the ordinance is tightened before they consider new types of technologies.
 
With Michigan’s new legislation, Public Act 233, Costner said there’s not only preempting if a township doesn’t offer a compatible ordinance, but there also are significant additions to energy standards which are pushing BPW and other utilities to put in more intermittent resources like solar and wind. Battery storage, Costner explained, helps to make that intermittency more levelized.

As for a timeline, Costner said that if BPW were to move forward, plans could be in place within the next year or so. BPW has engaged with a consulting firm to craft proposals that involve solar as well as battery energy storage—which principally would be connected to substations already in the industrial district. There already have been talks with the City of Holland and Park Township, where BPW’s service territory is. 

According to Costner, the Commission should expect to see a growing interest among the utilities looking at battery storage as part of an integrated solution for renewable clean energy standards.
 
The commissioners stated they anticipate push back from residents if a BESS is near houses as well as over neighbors being permitted to having storage systems in their homes.  Considering BESS likely will be a hot topic in the community, the Commission decided to have another study session before opening up the conversation to residents in a public hearing.       
 
In the meantime, residents wanting to weigh in on the addition of BESS to the City ordinance, may contact the Planning Commission or Senior Planner Steve Peterson.

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