Greenwood Lake area: Warwick BESS zoning law set for July 23 hearing

Greenwood Lake area residents are in the middle of Warwick’s public review for a proposed battery energy storage systems (BESS) zoning law—and the Town says the review continues at least through the Aug. 13 Town Board meeting.

The measure is Introductory Local Law No. 5 of 2026, which would amend Warwick’s zoning code (Chapter 164) to regulate where BESS can be located across the town, including the Village of Greenwood Lake.

What Warwick’s proposed BESS law would do

Warwick’s summary says the draft is designed to protect public health and safety while still allowing some residential and commercial battery storage—and limiting larger, utility-scale facilities.

Among the key highlights described in the town’s materials:

• Utility-scale battery storage would be effectively barred: the draft would prohibit large-scale battery storage facilities greater than 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) anywhere in Warwick, and says only systems up to 1 MWh may be considered.
• A three-tier system for BESS: Class 0 includes residential/small-scale systems up to 80 kWh; Class 1 covers medium-sized systems serving only on-site demand; and Class 2 covers larger systems up to 1 MWh that may serve off-site demand and require special approvals.
• Stricter location limits near homes and sensitive uses: the summary says no Class 1 or Class 2 systems within 1,000 feet of residences.
• Additional Class 2 limits: the draft would prohibit Class 2 systems within one-half mile of hospitals, schools, colleges, libraries, nursing homes, nurseries, and adult day care facilities.
• Additional Class 2 limits (recreation and worship): the draft would also prohibit Class 2 systems within 1,000 feet of parks, playgrounds, or houses of worship.
• Other prohibited areas: the summary also flags limits such as bans in aquifer protection districts, FEMA flood zones, and areas near historic resources.

Safety and environmental requirements proposed by Warwick

The BESS summary ties the zoning changes to fire safety and emergency planning. It describes requirements including:

• Compliance with the latest NYS Fire Code, NFPA 855, and UL 9540A testing standards (plus NYSERDA guidance)
• Mandatory third-party fire safety inspections
• 24/7 remote monitoring
• Detailed emergency response plans and annual training exercises with local emergency responders
• For larger systems, emergency runoff containment sized to hold at least 10,000 gallons of potentially contaminated firefighting water
• PFAS-based fire suppression systems are prohibited, along with stormwater controls

Public hearing date and how to comment

Warwick’s materials say the public hearing for Introductory Local Law No. 5 of 2026 is scheduled to begin Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Warwick Town Hall. The town also says the public review phase—and the possibility of draft changes based on public input—will continue at least through the Aug. 13 Town Board meeting.

Written comments may be submitted:

• By email to the Town Clerk at clerk@townofwarwickny.gov
• By mail to the Warwick Town Board, 132 Kings Highway, Warwick, NY 10990

The Town also says residents can use a new online public input portal connected to the draft materials.

Why Greenwood Lake-area residents should pay attention

Because Warwick regulates zoning for areas that include the Village of Greenwood Lake, these proposed standards could affect whether larger battery storage projects are feasible near Greenwood Lake and other town hamlets/villages—and what kind of projects could fit if the town adopts the framework after public input.

Sources

• Town of Warwick — BESS Law Summary (PDF)