The Douglas County Zoning and Codes department will host a community drop-in session about battery energy storage systems from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Zoning and Codes/Public Works building, 3755 E. 25th St. in Lawrence.

Planner Karl Bauer will provide 15-minute presentations at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. covering what a BESS entails and the regulations process. Staff will seek community input on topics such as location, notification areas, setbacks and size limitations.

Staff will be available to gather community input on a walk-in basis. Community feedback will help inform staff’s ongoing work and will be shared with the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission as it considers draft regulations. Those unable to attend may contact Zoning and Codes staff by filling out this form on the county’s website.

A battery energy storage system, BESS, stores electrical energy in rechargeable batteries and releases it when needed. Systems range in size from small units commonly found in garages and basements to large installations resembling rows of shipping containers that can cover several acres.

BESS installations are distinct from data centers, which house computer systems and other infrastructure used to process, store and route digital data.

Proposed regulations for battery energy storage systems are under development. Douglas County has not received applications for a BESS installation.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider draft regulations for battery energy storage systems at its Dec. 16 meeting. The proposed regulations would then require final approval by the Board of County Commissioners, which is anticipated in 2027.