Dougherty County commissioners consider approval of battery storage facility

ALBANY – One knock on solar panels used to generate electricity is that the massive arrays of solar panels only make power when the sun shines. 

Now, battery energy storage systems are cropping up all over the state, and farmland at a solar farm in Dougherty County will likely house one of those facilities in the future.

The Dougherty County Commission is considering an application from Dougherty County Energy Storage for the construction of a facility to be located at the existing solar facility on Moultrie Road, a few miles east of Albany.

The solar production facility provides power to Georgia Power Co. customers and has been in operation for six years on land zoned AG for agricultural use. BESS facilities allow for the storage of electricity in batteries when excess power is being generated for use when demand is high.

The commission earlier this year approved new rules for permitting battery installations. 

Where previously battery systems were only allowed as part of a solar energy development, the commission voted in October to allow the development of standalone battery facilities.

The Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission unanimously approved the company’s application in June and sent the matter to the commission for a final decision. 

Under the rules adopted, the commission must give special approval for energy storage projects.

For Dougherty County Commissioner Anthony Jones, in whose District 6 the facility will be located, seeing is believing.

During Monday’s meeting, Jones requested that the planning commission set up a tour at a similar facility.

Many of the complaints from residents in other locales have been about the noise produced by battery systems. 

“I’m still concerned about that extra noise,” Jones said. “I understand it’s an ag district, but there are residences around there. I’m concerned about those neighborhoods. I want to ensure that those residents of District 6 are going to enjoy the same quality of life.

“I want to see what this looks like, what this feels like.”

Commissioner Clinton Johnson also expressed an interest in examining a site.

Georgia Power plans to add 765 megawatts of battery storage capacity in the state next year, including sites in Bibb, Floyd, Cherokee and Lowndes counties. Other companies also operate BESS systems in Georgia.