Oshtemo Township’s Planning Commission finished reading its draft energy systems ordinance aloud, and staff will prepare a second draft.
The commission has reviewed the draft in sections since August. At the October 8 meeting, members read through the remaining sections, including requirements for annual reporting, insurance and decommissioning financial assurance, emergency response plans, and private accessory solar, wind and energy storage systems. Staff distributed one appendix that night and said four or five more are coming to complete the ordinance package.
What the draft would require of an energy storage system
- Annual report and meeting: The owner or operator would submit an annual report to the township clerk by March 31 each year, and the Planning Commission would hold an annual meeting to review it.
- Report contents: Equipment changes, operating performance, safety incidents and emergency calls, maintenance records, public complaints and how they were resolved, insurance and decommissioning assurance, emergency response plan status, contact information, and environmental compliance. The owner or operator would also certify that the facility complied with its approval.
- Complaints: Under the draft’s complaint process, complaints are acknowledged within two business days, investigated within five and corrected within 30.
- Emergency response: The annual report would confirm whether first responder training was offered, and updated emergency response plans would be submitted to the Oshtemo Fire Department and the township clerk.
- Recertification: The owner or operator would submit a recertification every two years.
During the reading, members agreed to wording changes, including requiring metered energy discharge totals and a battery health assessment without qualifiers, and specifying that updated emergency response plans be approved by the fire department. The draft remains under review.
Public comment
Several residents spoke after the reading. Speakers asked the commission to:
- Retain independent experts in noise control, fire and hazardous materials, and environmental insurance to review the draft before a second version.
- Add consequences for non-compliance to the annual report requirements.
- Require baseline sound monitoring before construction and post-construction testing, with firm deadlines.
- Provide independent verification of safety in the biennial recertification, not self-certification alone.
Some speakers raised concerns about water and air quality, noise and property values. One said they would rather such facilities not be built in the township.
What happens next
Staff said they will review all written and spoken comments before preparing a second draft. They asked residents who spoke to send their comments in writing. Staff gave no date for the second draft. The next meeting will include the final piece of the township’s environmental regulations.
Staff also said the moratorium on new energy storage applications will need to be extended, and that doing so shows good faith while the township works on an ordinance.
