Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board is in the planning stages of an all-day informational meeting focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and local moratoria, to be held in Chautauqua County in August 2026. As you may be aware, New York State currently leads the nation in active BESS moratoriums, and our region is directly impacted. This event is designed to provide municipal officials, first responders, code enforcement officers, and other local leaders with the regulatory, safety, land use, and emergency response information they need to make informed decisions for their communities.
We need your help in two ways:
- Please complete the survey yourself.
Your input as a board member is valuable. The survey takes approximately 3-5 minutes and asks about your interest in BESS-related topics and your availability during August 2026.
👉 https://forms.office.com/r/RLuVx94v1v?origin=lprLink
- Please forward this survey to your county’s constituents.
We are asking that each board member share this survey with municipal leaders, first responders, code enforcement officers, emergency managers, and other relevant officials in your county. The more responses we receive, the better we can tailor the agenda and schedule the event around the greatest number of participants. Suggested recipients include:
- Town and Village Supervisors/Mayors
- County Legislators
- Planning and Zoning Board Members
- Fire Chiefs and EMS Coordinators
- Code Enforcement Officers and Building Inspectors
- Emergency Management Coordinators
- Municipal Attorneys or Counsel
Please forward the survey and request responses by June 25, 2026 .
The meeting will include multiple segments tailored to different audiences — attendees will have the option to attend only the segment(s) relevant to their role or to stay for the full day. Light snacks and lunch will be provided.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the planned event, please do not hesitate to reach out to Jami Makaehu, Program Coordinator, Southern Tier West (716-945-5301 ext.2207, jmakaehu@southerntierwest.org). Thank you in advance for your participation and for helping us get this important information in front of the communities we serve.