At the February 18, 2025, Board of Selectmen meeting, the Board voted to appeal the decision made by the CT Siting Council in January to approve a battery storage facility here in Granby.
The Town is against the construction of this facility due to a variety of safety concerns. The proposed site sits atop a large aquifer that feeds in to the Farmington River Valley Watershed, and there are safety concerns regarding battery storage in general, and in a congested area such as is located at 100 Salmon Brook Street.
A number of community members have reached out to the Town asking how they could help the Town, and here's how:
The Town of Granby has been working with state legislators on legislation that would place a moratorium on BESS facilities until the state develops minimum requirements related to public safety and protection of the environment.
This week, there is an opportunity in the legislature to publicly voice support for the moratorium. The Energy and Technology Committee will be holding a public hearing on seven bills on Thursday, February 27 starting at 10:30 am. Of these, SB 1352, An Act Promoting Energy Efficiency, mentions energy storage systems that store electricity (see lines 974-976 and 992-994). This makes testimony related to the BESS moratorium relevant.
Click here to view the proposed bill.
Representative Mark Anderson plans to testify in support of an amendment to this bill to impose the moratorium on BESS facilities, until safety and environmental protection standards are codified.
Click here to view a draft of the amendment proposal.
All members of the public may testify or submit written testimony. The deadline to register to testify in person or via Zoom is 3pm on Wednesday, February 26. Written testimony is important and should be uploaded either to accompany oral testimony or to stand alone. Please see information below on how to register and to submit testimony. Please text, call, or email Representative Anderson with any questions.
-Rep. Mark Anderson
C: (860) 200-7300 Email: Mark.Anderson@cga.ct.gov
-Register to speak:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hoVb_wVvR7CMOQJST2bkww#/registration
-Submit written testimony:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimonySub/CGAtestimonysubmission.aspx?comm_code=ET
-Check Speaker Order (after 6 pm on Wednesday):
https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGADisplayTestimonies/CGADisplayTestimony.aspx?comm_code=et&date=02/27/2025&sess_year=2025
-Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwAxOM8vAns