By Rebecca Martin
The proposed battery storage project in New Paltz raises questions that Kingston should be paying attention to now.
KCE NY 5 battery energy storage system, a proposed 100 MW battery storage project, was recently selected by NYSERDA for a state energy-storage award. The project is proposed for County-owned property in New Paltz, and the company’s project summary says it planned to seek a Special Use Permit and Site Plan Approval from the Town of New Paltz.
According to reporting by Mid-Hudson News, the project is also seeking “zoning immunity” rather than following the standard local town process.
At the same time, Ulster County is seeking to become the SEQR lead agency for the project.
We don’t know whether County-owned land would be involved in a future battery storage proposal in Kingston, or if the New Paltz project would set a precedent. What happens to local zoning authority when a project involves County property and the County seeks to take the lead role in environmental review?
That is one reason a moratorium deserves serious consideration in Kingston. It would give the City time to establish clear local standards and determine how these small-scale battery storage projects should fit within Kingston’s zoning and comprehensive planning framework—before a specific project forces those questions.
This is moving quickly, with BESS and land use all new. Kingston should not wait for a developer, the County, or the State to determine what is best for the City.