Surprise should plan for BESS, not fear it

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OPINION — The city of Surprise is developing an ordinance to regulate Battery Energy Storage Systems, commonly known as BESS. This is an important decision because energy storage will become an increasingly important part of the infrastructure needed to support Arizona’s continued growth.

Surprise’s Planning and Zoning Commission has voted twice to recommend a 100-foot setback for BESS facilities. In June, the City Council also heard from numerous experts who discussed the technology, safety standards and appropriate setbacks. The council should listen to those recommendations and approve the 100-foot setback.

There is understandable concern whenever new technology comes into our communities, particularly when people hear about lithium-ion battery fires. But we should put those risks into perspective.

Most of us already live around potentially hazardous materials every day. We have propane tanks attached to backyard grills, gasoline in garages and natural gas running into homes. Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere — in cell phones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-bikes and countless rechargeable devices.

We don’t eliminate these products because they carry some risk. We manage that risk through appropriate safety standards, proper installation, fire codes and responsible oversight. BESS should be approached the same way.

Surprise is growing rapidly, and with that growth comes increased demand for reliable electricity. Battery storage allows electricity to be stored when it is available and used when it is needed, making it an important component of our future energy infrastructure.

The city should absolutely establish strong safety requirements for these facilities. But regulations should be based on facts, established safety standards and expert recommendations — not fear.

Planning and Zoning has studied this issue and twice reached the same conclusion.

Let’s plan responsibly for Surprise’s future. I ask the City Council to approve the 100-foot setback.

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