Is battery storage the new data center? Why towns across the U.S. are banning them

Executive Producer

Energy storage projects, especially battery energy storage systems (BESS), are growing quickly across the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, over 80% of new electric generation capacity is expected to come from battery storage and solar this year.

Over the last five years, more than 40 gigawatts of energy have been added to the grid from these systems, including a record 15 gigawatts in 2025 alone. Developers are expected to add 24 gigawatts in 2026.

What is a BESS?

Battery energy storage systems capture energy from different sources — often renewables, like solar and wind — and store it in rechargeable batteries for later use. They help stabilize electrical grids by providing steady power from renewable sources, which can sometimes be inconsistent.

There has been a growing urgency to stabilize electric supply as demand grows, especially as more states adopt emissions reduction standards and clean energy requirements for new construction. In April, New York’s grid operator (NYISO) warned that the power resources available to meet forecasted peak demand this summer are at a historically low margin. NYISO warned that the state needs to accelerate the development of new generation resources and more flexible assets that can respond to grid stress.

So, why are they controversial? It has to do with the batteries.

BESS Fires

Most battery storage facilities rely on lithium-ion batteries for grid-scale storage because they can pack a lot of power. When used and stored properly, these batteries are generally safe, but on some occasions, they can spark fires that are extremely difficult to extinguish.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these fires may reignite hours or days later. They can also release harmful gases that pose health risks to nearby residents and first responders.

Since 2020, the EPA said BESS failure incidents have decreased overall, but some recent fires have gotten attention. In 2024, San Diego experienced a BESS fire with continued flare-ups for seven days. In January 2025, another BESS fire broke out in Monterey County, California, resulting in a 24-hour evacuation of more than 1,000 residents.

Moss Landing battery storage plant fire in Monterey County, CA

This past December, the village of Warwick, New York, experienced a battery energy storage fire. The village conducted an environmental investigation, but found no evidence of adverse environmental impacts from the fire.

Local Bans, Restrictions

These safety risks have prompted increasing public pushback as more BESS projects are proposed. Several towns, cities and counties across the United States have started passing moratoriums to prevent the construction of battery storage facilities until they can draft adequate safety regulations.

Sister station WPTZ combed through a list of reported BESS moratoriums from the development firm Carina Energy. WPTZ tracked down as many public ordinances, meeting agendas, and minutes as possible to verify which municipalities have active bans or moratoriums and which had pending moratoriums.

So far, more than 50 municipalities have banned or paused construction of battery storage systems across at least 10 U.S. states. At least five moratoriums are pending. New York leads the nation with the most restrictions.

Safety Measures

Some municipalities have let their moratoriums expire after drafting regulations to ensure safe BESS development. These regulations often include strict rules on environmental reviews and oversight, battery fire training plans, and how far away the sites need to be from residential areas.

New York State implemented its own robust safety code for battery energy storage systems. A spokesperson for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) told WPTZ that the Inter-agency Fire Safety Working Group collaborated with state agencies, nationally renowned experts, and the Fire Department of the City of New York to ensure first responders have the necessary training to respond to an incident.

According to NYSERDA, the state also implemented the following requirements for BESS construction:

• Peer reviews by contracted industry experts and enhanced field inspections as an added layer of oversight
• Inspections that operate in parallel with local permitting, ensuring every community retains control
• Required explosion protection for all battery cabinets and enclosures
• Qualified representatives with knowledge of the BESS installation available for dispatch within 15 minutes of the site to support emergency responders in the event of a BESS fire
• Around-the-clock monitoring for smart, safe fire detection systems
• Enhanced video monitoring with a 72-hour lookback feature for transparency and safety
• Regular special inspections to ensure safety and compliance

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