Hodgson Russ Team Secures Approval For Standalone Battery Storage Facility

The increased use of intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar, coupled with the closure of large generating facilities, has created a growing need for energy storage facilities to ensure efficient operation of the electric grid. But communities have not enacted regulations for battery storage, complicating approvals. A Hodgson Russ team led by Daniel Spitzer recently obtained approval for one of the first standalone systems in Western New York. On behalf of the client, the team worked with the local municipality to understand the issues presented by the new technology, guided the environmental review process, obtained site plan and special use permit approval, and negotiated a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement.