The leader of Harris Beach Murtha’s Energy Industry Team recently spoke to the Albany Times Union for an article on battery storage systems.

The in-depth article mentioned Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desire to build more battery storage systems throughout the state to bolster the state’s electric grid, which is at a low point in its recent history when it comes to reliability, according to the New York Independent System Operator, a not-for-profit organization that manages the grid.

But many battery storage projects are facing local opposition. According to the Times Union, New York has added about one-third as much battery energy storage so far this year as it did in 2022, despite the industry being more mature. The decline comes as community groups, often organized on social media, have lobbied for a wave of project cancellations and local restrictions.

Some developers are taking the fight to court. A ban in Yorktown, a Westchester County community, was successfully challenged in court by a battery storage company.

“Because courts increasingly classify grid-scale storage as essential public utility infrastructure, total prohibitions routinely face aggressive challenges,” said John McManus, an attorney with experience working on battery projects. “An outright ban rarely resolves the issue and shifts the planning debate from the Town Board directly into the courtroom.”

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