Battery storage pause advances

A proposed moratorium on battery storage facilities advanced Thursday.

Portland Plan Commission members voted unanimously to recommend to Portland City Council that it place a one-year moratorium.

The issue is expected to be on the Portland City Council agenda for May 19.

There were no comments Thursday during the public hearing on the moratorium.

Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn noted that Jay County REMC has expressed interest in a battery storage unit at POET Biorefining southwest of the city. That site falls within the city’s 2-mile buffer for zoning rules.

He said the moratorium would allow time for research on such facilities and to develop an ordinance to govern them.

“I just want a chance to get ahead of it,” said Hemmelgarn. 

He noted that a moratorium can be lifted early or extended, if necessary.

Plan commission member and former mayor Randy Geesaman said he feels the moratorium is the proper way to handle the situation.

Commission members Bart Darby, Kent McClung, Ashley Hilfiker, Chad Aker, Kyle Cook, Ron Laux and Geesaman, absent Jerry Alexander and Steve McIntosh, voted to recommend the moratorium.

Jay County Commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on battery storage and new solar facilities at their meeting Monday.