The Town of Gardiner Board adopted a law which temporarily halts applications for battery energy storage systems during a busy board meeting on July 8.

The law will set a six-month moratorium, or pause, on the acceptance, processing or approval of any applications for battery energy storage systems in the town of Gardiner.

According to the law the purpose of the moratorium is to give the board time to research and create legislation around battery energy storage systems, without the pressure of pending applications.

The board voted unanimously to approve the proposed law.

“These applications are coming. They’re going to lots of towns throughout the state and throughout Ulster County,” Supervisor Marybeth Majestic said. “If we have a local law in place and we get an application, it has to conform to the law that we [make].”

Prior to the vote, Gardiner residents shared their opinion on the moratorium and provided feedback on what they hope the board will consider during the creation of future battery storage legislation.

“I am definitely for the moratorium,” said Gardiner resident Alyce Doche during the hearing. “I’m thankful for that so that we could use the six months to investigate research, all of the concerns, all of the wonderful things that may be about [battery energy storage systems], all horrible things about [them].”
Other residents sought to restrict storage systems to certain districts.

“I think it’s wise that we take the time to really review whether this is the type of production we would like to have in what we see as mainly an agricultural and a tourist and regular community,” said resident Nancy Geller.

She encouraged the board to limit these storage systems to the existing industrial park in the town, expanding the industrial zoning there if needed.

“It would be wise in the review,to look at increasing the industrial zone over by Steves lane and not ruining the agricultural aspect of our community,” she said.

Majestic said this is something the board will consider when drafting the law. “While the moratorium’s in place, we will look at the law. One of the things the town board might decide to do is to limit this to certain zones.”

The supervisor also encouraged the public to make themselves known during the creation of future legislation regulating these storage systems in the town.

“You should watch for the town board agendas, for agenda items discussing the battery, energy storage system, [the] proposal of the law, and attend those meetings,” she said.

The next town board meeting will be held on August 12.