Clifton Park Bans Battery Energy Storage Systems

The Town of Clifton Park has voted to ban battery energy storage in the town — effectively preventing future projects from going forward. 

The ban came after two public hearings to consider whether to just extend the current moratorium put in place last year or outright ban the structures within Clifton Park. 

During the hearings, most of the people who spoke were in opposition to battery storage facilities, arguing that the technology was too new to be considered safe and had significant environmental concerns. They included engineers and three fire chiefs who said that if one of the systems were to catch fire, then they would have limited ability to fight it. 

“If really you think that it’s a good idea to put these systems in our town, I invite you when it does catch on fire to show up with me and all of our folks, put an air pack on and try and fight that fire,” Tim Kimball, Chief of Vischer Ferry Volunteer Fire Company, said. “I don’t care if it’s an energy storage system, a Tesla, a cell phone that’s caught fire in somebody’s pants, whatever it is. It’s the tech. You can’t put them out.” 

Kimball also warned that should a fire happen at one of these sites, there would be potentially miles wide evacuations due to toxic smoke from the fire. He also said that it would require firefighters to be on scene for days to try and ensure the fire doesn’t spread, and people don’t get too close to the burning battery. 

An incident cited by multiple commenters was the December 19, 2025, fire at a battery storage facility in Warwick, New York. According to Warwick Mayor, Michael Newhard, this fire was caused by possible moisture infiltration of the units. This fire was left to burn out on its own with local responders monitoring air, water, and soil contamination. 

This incident wasn’t the first such incident in Warwick with a 2023 fire prompting more regulations from the Village with which Mayor Newhard alleges they did not comply. 

It was these concerns that led the Town Council to pass both the moratorium and the outright ban of battery storage facilities, with members saying that without further research on the impact of these facilities, they can’t support allowing them in Clifton Park. 

While Clifton Park is one of many towns to ban these energy storage facilities, a bill currently in the State Assembly and State Senate would place authority for these facilities under the prevue of State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission — limiting the power of local communities to regulate the matter.