Mayor Michael McGinty & Village Board Passes Moratorium Banning Battery Energy Storage Facilities

July 17, 2025

At the June 26, Village Board meeting, the Mayor and the Board of Trustees unanimously passed a local law imposing a moratorium on Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities in the Village of Island Park. Local Law 4 of 2025, prohibits the Village from accepting, reviewing, or approving any application for the development of BESS infrastructure.

The moratorium provides time for the Village to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the hazards posed by BESS, while also ensuring that local emergency responders are equipped to protect the community.

The Village Board also cited growing public concerns and the lack of proven safety standards for BESS and offshore wind infrastructure in residential communities. In response, Island Park is taking proactive steps to ensure the community remains safe, secure, and undisturbed by massive industrial-scale energy projects.

The message from Village leadership is clear: the safety of our residents is our paramount concern when dealing with BESS and offshore wind. We will not put our residents’ safety in jeopardy.

“In Island Park, we don’t gamble with safety, and we don’t experiment with our residents’ way of life,” said Mayor McGinty, who has taken a firm stance on the issue. “Battery storage facilities and offshore wind infrastructure present unacceptable risks. And let me be clear: this Village is not a testing ground for dangerous energy experiments. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”

Deputy Mayor Matthew Graci added, “This moratorium is just the beginning. We will use every tool available to protect Island Park from developments that threaten our safety, our environment, and our quality of life.”