Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management California
Program: Center for EmPowering Communities
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Michigan is at the forefront of deploying battery energy storage systems (BESS). In November 2023, it became the first Midwestern state to establish a statewide energy storage target, with Public Act 235 of 2023 mandating 2,500 MW of energy storage by 2029. The declining cost of battery storage has made it an attractive solution for improving grid reliability and integrating renewable energy more efficiently.
To aid local governments in navigating this evolving landscape, Planning & Zoning for Battery Energy Storage Systems: A Guide for Michigan Local Governments was developed. This guide provides sample language to help municipalities incorporate BESS of all scales into their zoning ordinances. It also addresses zoning options for large-scale BESS, informed by Michigan’s new energy siting law, Public Act 233 of 2023. Communities are offered three approaches: adopting a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO), requiring state certification for large BESS projects, or adopting incompatible but workable zoning regulations.
The guide's recommendations are grounded in peer-reviewed research where available and were developed by experts from the Center for EmPowering Communities at the University of Michigan's Graham Sustainability Institute. It has been reviewed by professionals from local and state governments, legal and planning sectors, utility companies, renewable energy developers, nonprofits, and academic institutions.