HADLEY — A standalone battery storage project on Breckenridge Road that couldn’t proceed to permitting due to a prohibition in town zoning may return, based on a recent advisory from the state attorney general’s office.

The Planning Board on March 21 learned from Tom Corbett, a representative of Zero-Point Development of Worcester, that a recent opinion from Attorney General Andrea Campbell could clear the way for standalone battery storage systems to be allowed in Hadley.

Corbett explained that Campbell offered a response to the town of Wendell’s attempt to ban them with language stating that “no standalone commercial or industrial scale battery energy storage facilities are allowed.”

“She specifically called out standalone energy as a protected use and didn't allow Wendell to put a prohibition on it,” Corbett said.

Whether the AG’s opinion would affect the situation in Hadley is uncertain.

Zero-Point had proposed the project for the gravel pit owned by the Konieczny family near Zatyrka Park, but withdrew it last June, understanding that Hadley might amend its renewable energy bylaw.

The town’s bylaw allows battery storage systems, but only when they are part of a photovoltaic project. This allowed batteries associated with a solar project near the Hampshire Mall to be approved

Zero-Point  is working in partnership with Eversource for the 5-megawatt battery designed to store energy, including electricity produced by renewable sources. Corbett said Eversource is done with their end of what is needed to get the battery system installed, and Corbett added that his company is still “looking for a path forward with it.” 

Planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski said Hadley is not opposed to battery storage per se, though there are concerns about the contaminants inside them and the potential cleanup that might be needed from emergency responders should they leak or catch on fire.

Meanwhile, the Konieczny family is looking to subdivide the gravel pit into two housing lots. Even should this progress, the back portion, about 4.5 acres, might still be able to house a battery. 

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