Yorktown Board Votes to Extend Solar Farm Moratorium, Adds One for Battery Farms

YORKTOWN, N.Y.—The Yorktown Town Board voted to approve two moratoriums during its Oct. 1 meeting related to solar panels and battery energy storage systems. The moratoriums are designed to give the board time to consider zoning and town code revisions.

Its first hearing focused on zoning regulations for solar power generation systems and facilities. Several individuals attending the meeting expressed concerns that the law’s intention to promote solar energy while preserving open space and natural areas wasn’t being upheld. They argued that too many large-scale solar farms are being approved or proposed.

The board voted to extend the six-month moratorium on solar projects, which had expired on Sept. 30.

The board also voted to adopt a six-month moratorium on battery energy storage systems (or BESSes) for the first time. Supervisor Ed Lachterman expressed his support for the pause, noting that “all the comments we’ve gotten are in favor of the moratorium.” 

BESSes are categorized by capacity in two tiers: Tire 1 is up to 600 kilowatt hours; Tier 2 is anything above 600 kWh. The approved six-month moratorium applies to BESSes of all sizes.

Councilwoman Susan Siegel also backed the moratorium, pointing out that the town already has two battery storage facilities—one near Staples on Crompond Road and another on Gomer Court, off Route 6N. She stressed the need for more information.

“Before the board considers what should be in a new law, I think we need to hear something from our planning department, possibly our building department, possibly from the fire department,” she said at the meeting. “Are we having problems with the current law?”

The moratoriums will not affect existing solar and BESS systems but could restrict or stop proposed projects. Both solar and battery storage projects were on the Planning Board agenda at its Monday, Oct. 7 meeting: Jacob Road Solar (seeking site plan and special use permit approval to develop a 3.125 mega-watt AC solar facility on a 15-acre portion of the Colangelo Subdivision) and RIC Development Battery Storage, a proposed 5 mega-watt battery energy storage system on a 4.4-acre property at 3666 Old Yorktown Road.