Somerset ZBA Finds Battery Storage Project Exempt
The Somerset Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-0 to find that Flatiron Energy's proposed battery storage system on County Street is protected under the state's Dover Amendment.
Zoning Board · Meeting of August 6, 2026
SOMERSET — The Somerset Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-0 to find that Flatiron Energy's proposed battery storage system on County Street is protected under the state's Dover Amendment. Chair Steven Cadorette, Vice Chair Bernard Miranda and Clerk Steven Moniz backed the finding after Building Commissioner James Aguiar and special counsel Arthur D. Frank Jr. argued the project meets the legal test set in a 2025 Land Court battery-storage ruling.
The town's fire chief detailed a three-layer suppression plan built around remote-monitoring "fire rover" poles, saying "I like redundant systems, right?" VHB's Joe Cappellino reported modeled nighttime noise increases up to 8.5 decibels at nearby homes, within state limits. Resident Paul Healy, a retired public health physician, pressed the board on soil contamination, saying "we don't know what we don't know." The board continued the hearing, discussing extending its decision deadline to September 30.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,937 words
Source: the Zoning Board meeting of August 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Members read the rest of this story and every Somerset meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this story
Know someone in Somerset who follows town government? Share Townbrief Somerset: they can sign up free.