Whately Planning Board Unanimously Backs Battery Storage and Solar Bylaw Amendments

WHATELY -- May 5, 2026, Whately Planning Board unanimously recommends battery storage and solar zoning bylaws for Town Meeting. The four-member board voted 4-0 Tuesday to recommend favorable action on two warrant articles, one creating a new zoning bylaw section governing battery energy storage systems and one amending the existing solar provisions for consistency, capping a drafting process that began in early 2025. Chair Brand Prentiss told the board that the final version of the battery storage bylaw, version 12 dated April 30, had been reviewed and editorially cleared by Town Counsel with no changes to intent or effect. Prentiss emphasized that under the state's Dover Amendment, failing to adopt the bylaw would not prohibit battery storage in Whately but would instead allow it anywhere in town subject only to an electrical permit and building permit, with no site-plan review or abutter notification. "If you don't approve this, you're basically saying battery storage can go anywhere in town with basically an electrical permit and a building permit, and end of story," he said. The board also voted 4-0 to delegate authority to Prentiss to draft the board's written report to the Selectboard, and canceled its May 26 regular meeting. Town Meeting is scheduled for June 2.