Worthington Planning Board Continues Solar Hearing to February After Battery Safety Debate

WORTHINGTON — January 9, 2026 — Worthington Planning Board votes unanimously to continue a contested solar hearing to February 11. The board voted 5-0 to push the public hearing on BWC Wades Stream, LLC's proposed 3.76-megawatt dual-use agrivoltaic installation at 190 Ridge Road to next month, with Chair Bart Kinneybrook pressing Blue Wave Solar for minimum battery storage specifications, noting the applicant's January 2 responses offered ranges of 1.5 to 3 megawatts but deferred final equipment selection to the building permit stage, which he called "hard to make decisions based on." Fire and Risk Alliance consultant James Caulfield presented on battery container safety standards including NFPA 68 and NFPA 69 explosion-suppression systems, and noted a 100-foot firefighter exclusion zone and roughly 12-hour burn duration for a fully charged unit. Blue Wave's design revisions moved all battery storage equipment outside the Water Supply Protection District and added a northeastern berm and stormwater swale in response to abutter concerns. The board said it expects to have an independent engineering firm under contract within days, with technical review results anticipated by the February session, now relocated to the school cafeteria.