Oshtemo Township’s draft ordinance governing battery energy storage systems is being reviewed by the fire department, as the Township works toward finished rules before its moratorium expires.
The board confirmed the draft ordinance is being reviewed specifically for its fire-protection requirements, and that a contracted industry expert in battery energy storage systems will be made available to the planning commission to advise on safety considerations once that review is complete. Officials said the target timeline for a finished ordinance is tied to the moratorium’s expiration date, though no firm date was set. Multiple residents used public comment to raise concerns about a specific proposed battery storage site, including detailed testimony from a local physician about potential risks to groundwater and soil given the area’s hydrogeology; the Township said it’s collecting all such comments to forward to the planning commission as it drafts final standards.
The board also readopted a resolution supporting a coalition of Michigan municipalities’ ongoing legal fight over local control of energy-project siting. The dispute traces back to Public Act 233 of 2023, which gave the Michigan Public Service Commission authority to approve utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage projects in certain circumstances, bypassing local zoning boards. The coalition argues that a 2024 MPSC order implementing PA 233 unlawfully expanded the commission’s authority beyond what the law allows. After partial success at the Michigan Court of Appeals, the coalition has now asked the Michigan Supreme Court to take up the case. Oshtemo’s resolution reaffirms its support for that appeal and for restoring local zoning authority over these projects.
