Battery storage rules: Wilbraham (Hampden County), MA
Wilbraham's June 3, 2024 town meeting adopted battery storage zoning (Article 32): tiers by energy capacity, storage co-located with solar allowed by special permit in four districts and as of right with site plan approval in the Industrial, Professional Office Park and General Business district, stand-alone storage by special permit in two districts and not in the other nine, and an emergency operations plan requirement. The Attorney General approved it on September 5, 2024, noting it must be applied consistently with G.L. c. 40A §3.
Wilbraham: battery storage zoning bylaw, approved by the Attorney General (September 5, 2024)
Article 32 of the June 3, 2024 town meeting regulates battery storage by capacity tier and district, with an emergency operations plan requirement. The Attorney General approved it on September 5, 2024 (Case #11474), noting it must be applied consistently with G.L. c. 40A §3. Attorney General decision, Wilbraham, Case #11474 (September 5, 2024)
Fire and building codes in force
- 527 CMR 1.00 (NFPA 1, 2021 edition, with Massachusetts amendments), effective December 9, 2022; Chapter 52 references NFPA 855 (2020 edition)
- Permit from the head of the local fire department for energy storage above NFPA 855's threshold quantities (MassDEP gives 20 kWh for lithium-ion)
- 780 CMR, 10th edition of the State Building Code (2021 I-Codes base), effective October 11, 2024; it sends energy storage fire safety to the fire code
- Electrical code: NFPA 70 (2026 edition)
How a project is permitted
Projects of 100 MWh or more: one consolidated permit from the Energy Facilities Siting Board (rules apply to filings from July 1, 2026; the Board must decide within 15 months of finding the application complete). Smaller projects: the town's zoning and permits; the developer may choose a consolidated local permit, which the town must decide within 12 months or issue a constructive approval permit, and every town must accept that application from October 1, 2026 (Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024; 225 CMR 29.00). Ask your town how its zoning treats battery storage and which tier your project falls in.
Sources
- Attorney General decision on Wilbraham's bylaws (Case #11474) Town of Wilbraham
Check a specific system
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