The City of Vandalia now has some guidance in place concerning Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) after the Vandalia City Council approved an ordinance at their first meeting of November on Monday night. With there being interest shown by at least one entity in submitting a special use permit request to use BESS in the city limits and with statute being passed over the summer concerning the issue, City Attorney Ryan Conner explained that the city did not at the time have anything in place in the city’s code that allowed these types of projects under special use permits.
Conner further explained that the ordinance put to the council follows the county’s code and had been through the zoning commission.
Mayor Doug Knebel also further explained the process between the council and Zoning Commission for any special use permit applications.
Following a motion and second on the ordinance, there was some discussion that centered mainly around fire suppression with a project like a BESS as well setback guidelines. After the discussion, the ordinance was approved by the council by a vote of 7 to 0.
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