Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Town of Oyster Bay board voted unanimously to extend its moratorium on battery energy storage systems for another 12 months, citing ongoing safety concerns and continued public opposition during a recent meeting.
The resolution passed with six votes in favor and none opposed as part of a broader action calendar approved by the town board during their regular April 14 meeting. It is another win for the anti-battery storage movement in the Glen Head community, which rallied around opposition to the Oyster Shore Energy Storage, a now-cancelled project by Jupiter Power in Glen Head which the moratorium was initially created to prevent.
Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said the decision was driven by public safety considerations and the lack of effective methods to combat fires involving large-scale battery storage systems.
“We feel very strongly about we’ve heard; we’ve held hearings, listened to the professionals in firematics, in community safety,” Saladino said during the meeting. “People have done research about these issues and fires throughout the country and beyond, and it has been very clear to us, based on the data giving given to us, that the firematic professionals have informed us that there is not a way as of yet to put out these massive fires.”
The moratorium applies to battery energy storage systems, often referred to as BESS, which are increasingly proposed as part of renewable energy infrastructure. While supporters say the systems are critical for energy reliability and sustainability, critics have raised concerns about fire risks, environmental hazards and emergency response capacity.
Residents who spoke during the meeting supported extending the moratorium. Doug Augenthaler of Glen Head said recent incidents highlight the dangers associated with lithium-ion battery technology.
Fuller also pointed to the recent four-alarm fire at a Big Valley Nursery, a hardware store in Glen Head, arguing that a similar response to a battery facility fire could overwhelm local resources.
“It’s not a matter of the training that the state wants us to focus on,” he said. “It’s a matter of we don’t physically have the manpower to address these fires period.”
Town officials acknowledged the limits of their authority under state law but emphasized their willingness to continue pushing back on projects they view as unsafe. Saladino noted that the town has previously taken legal action when necessary and would continue to stand with residents.
“We stand with our residents 100 percent,” he said.
Christine Panzeca of Glen Head thanked the board for what she described as a proactive approach to protecting the community. She cited recent action by the City of Long Beach to restrict battery storage capacity and prohibit utility-scale systems as an example of municipalities responding to similar concerns.
She also urged the town to consider long-term zoning solutions, warning that companies may seek variances that could introduce additional hazardous materials near residential areas and waterways.
“Putting thousands of gallons of petroleum distillate and other hazardous chemicals in the ground,” she said, “in tanks near our waterways, near our wells, is probably not environmental and it’s not a smart move.”
During the discussion, officials also addressed concerns about marketing materials related to energy projects that appeared to suggest town support. Saladino said the use of images of town officials in such materials does not indicate endorsement.
As the vote concluded, board members reiterated that the moratorium is intended to give the town additional time to study the issue and develop regulations that prioritize safety.
