Southampton Planning Board Launches Effort to Draft Battery Storage Zoning Rules

SOUTHAMPTON — April 15, 2026 — Southampton Planning Board opens public input on battery energy storage system bylaw amid pressure from a pending solar project. The board held its first public discussion on a draft BESS zoning bylaw amendment forwarded by the Select Board, with consultant Richard Harris — the town's former planner — warning that the board must coordinate carefully with the Select Board on town meeting timing before advertising a hearing, since any hearing held more than six months before town meeting is invalid for that warrant. Board of Health Chair Caitlin Rooks, 189 College Highway, urged the board to incorporate state draft model bylaws and warned that a Blue Wave solar and BESS proposal at Basista Orchards sits largely over a Zone 2 water supply protection area with no operation or emergency response plans yet submitted. Residents Jeff Boter and Richard Adams, both of Pleasant Street, described a proposed 22-acre array with 30 inverters, two transformers, and four ground-mounted battery storage units near their homes, and said noise from a comparable 2.2-acre Hadley installation was audible from 500 feet. John Pevi of East Hampton told the board that DOER finalized renewable energy siting regulations in late March 2026 and municipalities have a July–December window to adopt them before new applications are governed solely by existing rules. Harris said he would aim to have a draft bylaw ready by the end of April.