BLAINE — The City of Blaine announced a public hearing regarding a proposed zoning moratorium on battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data centers has been scheduled.
The Blaine City Council will hold the hearing on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6pm in the City Council Chambers at Blaine City Hall, located at 435 Martin Street, Suite 4000.
The hearing is being scheduled amid broader discussions regarding electrical storage facilities and large-scale digital infrastructure that potentially could be constructed in Whatcom County.
Related permit activity in Whatcom County has included applications to construct and demolish battery energy storage systems. In neighboring Skagit County, commissioners enacted temporary moratoria to regulate energy storage, generation, and data centers on agricultural lands.
Public records from a Skagit County Planning Commission Meeting indicate distinct arguments from supporters and opponents.
Supporters of battery energy storage systems and related infrastructure argue the following points.
- grid reliability requires utility-scale battery installations to store intermittent power generated from wind and solar sources to meet state clean energy benchmarks
- localized battery storage reduces agricultural and commercial energy costs during peak demand cycles
- utility development expands local infrastructure capacity to handle ongoing electrification demands
Opponents and moratorium supporters argue the following points.
- lithium-ion battery installations present fire safety risks and potential runoff contamination affecting water supplies, agricultural soils, and local watersheds
- commercial-scale utility systems and data centers consume significant water and electrical capacity while creating land-use conflicts with surrounding rural and agricultural parcels
- local jurisdictions need interim moratoria to draft zoning standards rather than relying on state-level siting review through the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC)
Public comment may be given in person at the hearing or submitted in writing to CityCouncil@cityofblaine.com. Written comments must be received by 3:30pm on October 26, 2026, to be included in the official record. Information regarding the proposed moratorium is available through the City of Blaine Community Development Services Department by phone at 360-332-8311 or by email at cdscomments@cityofblaine.com with “BESS” in the subject line.
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