New York towns adopt battery storage moratoria, including Waterford, Walton, Halfmoon and Huntington
Waterford's 180-day moratorium expires November 29, 2026, and Walton has adopted a one-year moratorium that also reaches pending applications. Halfmoon adopted an extension of its own on March 4, 2026, and Huntington has reportedly voted a six-month pause. Walton cites a study of fire safety and siting standards.
Several New York towns have adopted temporary moratoria on battery energy storage systems in 2026. Waterford adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2026 on June 2, 2026, a 180-day moratorium under the Municipal Home Rule Law and Town Law sections 276 and 276-b, and the Town of Walton has adopted Local Law No. 2 of 2026, a one-year moratorium. The Town of Halfmoon adopted an extension of its moratorium on March 4, 2026, according to its notice of adoption, and the Town of Huntington has been reported to have voted a six-month pause on June 16, 2026. Waterford's and Walton's laws bar town boards from taking up storage applications; the scope and length of Halfmoon's extension were not shown in the notice read.
Town of Waterford Local Law No. 1 of 2026 (adopted June 2, 2026); Town of Walton Local Law No. 2 of 2026; Town of Halfmoon notice of adoption of moratorium extension (Mar. 4, 2026); N.Y. Mun. Home Rule Law § 10; N.Y. Town Law §§ 276, 276-b