SOUTHWICK — On Tuesday night, the Planning Board unanimously approved recommending residents vote yes to adopt a moratorium on large-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system installations and permanent structures like battery energy storage systems at Special Town Meeting on Jan. 13.

“What we are discussing tonight is whether or not Planning Board will recommend to Town Meeting a temporary pause that the voters would then have to approve for it to go into effect. It is not a hearing on whether or not we’re going to outright ban solar or battery energy storage systems,” said Planning Board Chair Jessica Thornton at the hearing on Tuesday.

Josephine Iennaco was first up at the hearing.

She asked if the town’s current zoning bylaws would prohibit a solar field array or battery energy storage system, referred to as BESS systems, from the start of the permitting process, since there isn’t a moratorium in place.

In what turned out to be essentially a Q&A format for the hearing, Thornton responded.

“I think I can answer that question,” she said. “Currently, we do have a bylaw that allows for small and large-scale ground-mounted solar arrays. It also allows for accessory buildings … including battery energy storage systems. So, yes.”

Then she explained the moratorium would put a temporary pause on the board accepting any permit applications for those systems.

“[That’s] so that we can get a better handle on it and make sure that it’s sited appropriately and that we have the proper setbacks and buffers,” Thornton said.

Iennaco then asked for an idea of the size of the systems, saying that “accessory” might infer that something is “small.”

“These are not accessory facilities. These are like, Amazon stuff, right?” she said.

Thornton said part of the process when the board begins the process of amending the zoning bylaws was to define those systems, especially the large-scale BESS systems.

The town already has a solar field bylaw, but no definitions of the batteries and possible sizes.

Up next was Kimberly Lamarche, who supported the moratorium before asking what happens if a fire occurs in a BESS. She then said she would prefer banning the BESS systems entirely.

Thornton took the “ban” question.

“That there would not be a way for the town of Southwick to put a bylaw into place banning solar and battery energy storage systems,” Thornton said, which prompted Lamarche to ask: “Why not?”

“We’re under the auspices of the state first, and then us second.” Thornton said.

Fire Chief Richard Stefanowicz then addressed the question about a BESS fire.

He said the department was prepared for those types of fires and that the town’s firefighters have instructions and training on how to fight those fires.

After another question, Stefanowicz asked those in attendance if the moratorium was the reason for the hearing.

“In fairness to the hearing, I would prefer we stay on track,” he said.

Thornton then explained to the audience that there would be no effort to amend the town’s current zoning bylaws until the board, with the assistance of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, finishes a thorough update of them.

The review and update are expected to be completed in time for the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

If approved by Town Meeting, the board would then start considering modifications to the bylaws, Thornton said.

Beth Lalli asked what happens if Special Town Meeting votes no on the moratorium.

“If the town meeting is no, then that’s the voice of the voters. They do not want a temporary moratorium, and that would leave our zoning bylaw as it is currently,” Thornton said.

Thornton said there are no public hearings open related to those systems and reminded everyone that the meeting is only three weeks away.

She then asked if the board members had any comments.

Member David Spina said he was “always in favor of the moratorium,” adding that the timing of when it would be lifted was important.

With that in mind, a motion was made to recommend to Special Town Meeting a moratorium on accepting applications for the installation of renewable energy systems until Sept. 1, 2027.

To make it clear to the audience, Thornton said the hearing was closed, and the board voted.

“The Planning Board has just recommended a warrant article to the Special Town Meeting that, on Jan. 13, registered voters can come and vote either ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ to put in place the recommended moratorium,” Thornton said.