From the Midwest to New York, local and state governments are introducing new zoning rules and restrictions on BESS and data centre projects.

The Community Development and Infrastructure Department at Santa Cruz County has become the latest California jurisdiction to publish a draft zoning ordinance regulating the deployment of battery energy storage systems. 

East Point Energy has been dealt a blow in its pursuit to construct a 150MW/600MWh BESS in Maryland.

Following in the footsteps of several other US jurisdictions this year, officials at California’s Orange County are one step closer to amending zoning laws to allow the development of BESS. 

After imposing a moratorium on the development of new battery storage projects in January 2024, officials in Solano County, California, have adopted new zoning standards for the technology.

Officials at the Zoning Board of Appeals for Hamilton County, Indiana, have rejected an application for a lithium iron phosphate BESS from developer Aypa Power.

In a move that might offer encouraging signs for the deployment of energy storage in the US Midwest, officials in Nebraska’s capital city, Lincoln, have recommended updates to zoning laws to allow large-scale battery storage.

Developer Rhynland Energy has applied to Massachusetts’ energy regulator for approval of a 180MW/720MWh standalone BESS, to the dismay of local authorities in the Town of Oakham.

Oregon’s Marion County has become the latest jurisdiction in the US to introduce a moratorium on utility-scale battery storage.

Prospect14 became the latest US renewable energy developer to have a hybrid storage project application scrutinised and ultimately rejected.