Battery energy storage system draws discussion by Dougherty Commission

By Alan Mauldin

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ALBANY – Dougherty County’s role in clean energy could get a fresh charge with a proposed battery storage system that would be located at the site of a Moultrie Road solar farm.

Dougherty County commissioners heard from county zoning personnel Monday and a company representative during a public hearing. No residents spoke in opposition to the project.

During the discussion, Commissioner Anthony Jones, in whose District 6 the battery energy storage system (BESS) would be located a few miles east of  Albany, said that his earlier reservations had been settled.

Jones had expressed concern about the potential of noise from the storage facility disturbing nearby residents. His concerns were allayed by discussing the issue with Angel Gray, deputy director of the Albany-Dougherty Planning Services.

“Farmland is very important to me,” Jones, a former University of Georgia Extension Service agent who worked in the county, said. “We talked about putting in a provision, so at the 20-year decommission we want to restore the land back to its agricultural status when they leave.”

Another concern was “What’s the county going to get out of it?” the commissioner said. 

According to Bartley Higgins, representing Mission Clean Energy, property tax revenues over the 20-year life of the BESS to the county and Dougherty County School Board would be between $31 million and $40 million. 

Additionally, during construction of the Plumleaf Solar Project, the county would receive sales taxes on local purchases.

Construction would start in 2027 or 2028 if approved by the commission, he said. 

Battery storage facilities allow for the storage of energy for use during peak demand times, reducing the cost for consumers, Higgins said.

The Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission recommended approval of the project in a 7-0 vote, with a stipulation that the company build a deceleration lane on the Liberty Expressway at the access point for the project.

The loss of agricultural land was a concern for Commissioner Russell Gray. The agricultural land dedicated to the solar facility is land that is not being planted in peanuts or used for pecan trees, he said.

“I’ve always been a healthy critic of taking jobs and production out of the county (agriculture),” he said. “As we chip away at our raw materials, we’re really taking away from our opportunities.

“I’m (also) against any tax abatements right now. I don’t think that’s in our best interest. I would like to know more about the economics of this deal.”

The commission in October approved a measure that allowed for the siting of battery facilities, as well as establishing regulations for them.

To give a green light to the proposed battery storage facility, the commission would only have to approve a zoning special request.

The commission will vote on the proposal at a later date.