On April 4, 2023, the Town of Riverhead signed up with the growing list of Long Island towns to have actually embraced unique zoning guidelines for Battery Storage Energy Systems (or BESS) tasks. The law, which was submitted with the State and worked on April 15, 2023, is codified in Chapter 301, Short Article LIID of the Town Code, properly entitled “Battery Energy Storage Systems.” A copy of the embraced guidelines is offered by clicking the following link:
Comparable to the laws embraced by other Long Island towns, Riverhead’s BESS guidelines mostly track the design law released by the New york city State Energy Research Study and Advancement Authority (NYSERDA), with some noteworthy highlights and differences. Riverhead’s guidelines include a familiar tiered system that divides tasks into 2 classifications: Tier I, which are tasks that will produce approximately 600kWh; and Tier II, which are tasks that will produce more than 600kWh. Tier I tasks are allowed in any zoning district in the Town and do not need a website strategy or unique authorization. Tier II tasks are allowed in the Town’s Industrial A and C Zoning Districts, however likewise in the Town’s Agricultral Security and Home A-80 Districts, with some included defenses and conditions. In all cases, Tier II tasks need both a Town Board unique authorization and website prepare approval from the Town Board. Furthermore, like the Town of Southampton, Riverhead has actually designated a variety of “avoidance locations” in which BESS tasks are presumptively forbidden, unless the sponsor can show that the task will not break down the historical, cultural, picturesque, or ecological quality of the location, as the case might be.
Likewise familiar are a number of security and lifestyle arrangements in the Code developed to make sure the safe commissioning, operation and decommissioning of tasks. These arrangements resolve functional requirements, consisting of fire security, and possible influence on surrounding homes, consisting of sound and light mitigation, and buffering requirements.
Lastly, Riverhead’s policy consist of some noteworthy distinct requirements. For instance, Tier II BESS tasks on residentially-zoned homes need to lie within 1,000 feet of an existing substation or a “Industrial Solar Power Production System” (a solar farm). In Addition, Tier II BESS tasks on industrially-zoned homes might share the website with other, unassociated primary usages.
With these brand-new guidelines in location, Riverhead is well-positioned for brand-new BESS tasks benefitting the Town and the east end area.