Pittsfield Subcommittee Supports Battery Energy Storage Ordinance

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — During its first meeting of the new term, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee supported city efforts to bring battery energy storage guidelines to Pittsfield.

The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday approved an amended proposal to add a battery energy storage system overlay [BESS] district. This would allow Pittsfield to embrace greener energy sources while protecting the interests of residents.

"As solar and other forms of renewable energy become more commonplace, developers and communities need to safely store the electricity that they are generating," City Planner Jacinta Williams explained.

"The proposed amendment is an attempt to codify where and how storage systems can be located within the city of Pittsfield."

She added that there is a sense of urgency for the zoning amendment, as there are developers who are "actively and aggressively" seeking ways to place large-scale battery energy storage systems on parcels in the city. There is a party with a preliminary subdivision plan coming through the Community Development Board, she said, and this leads the way to a definitive subdivision plan.

The goal is to provide regulatory procedures for BESS and BESS facilities, outline the application process for site plan approval and special permit applications, specify which districts are comparable with the use, discuss site requirements for each district where it is permitted, and require that interested departments respond with comments and concerns within 14 days of the application.

The proposal includes guidelines for residential-scale, small-scale, and commercial/industrial-scale BESS that fall within the boundaries of the overlay district. In the proposed ordinance, the infrastructure is not allowed in various places such as flood hazard zones, parks and open spaces, historical or indigenous land, and conservation areas.

"Overlay districts, they basically fill a gap where traditional zoning does not address a specific or a complicated local condition. It's an additional district that's laid over two or more zoning districts so we're not eliminating anything, we're just sort of putting a blanket over some of the districts and saying this is where you can put your large-scale battery energy storage systems," Williams said.

"And why would we need one? It's just to help us streamline the implementation of the additional regulations without having to go through and piecemeal and amend the codes for each district and it just helps us maintain some consistency throughout."

This was approved as an amendment to the motion.

Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre had some concerns with the design guidelines and would like to see more public input, explaining that the Berkshire Environmental Action Team recommended language that other municipalities have used.

There will be a public hearing on the proposal at the next City Council meeting where she hopes some more conversation will occur.

"We don't have to pass it exactly as it," Williams explained. "We can amend things but if we can move it forward with these changes I think that would be helpful."

Williams brought this proposal forward last year. In July, the Community Development Board voted to become the petitioner for the zoning amendment, and in November, it recommended the proposed document.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.