HADLEY — As a proposed energy storage bylaw continues to be refined by the Planning Board in advance of annual Town Meeting next month, some residents are questioning whether it’s appropriate to allow such systems in Hadley.

“Sometimes we have to stand up for what we believe, and if it takes a fight, then we have to stand up and prepare to fight,” Sean Mackin, of Breckenridge Road, told planners during a public hearing last week, noting that Hadley is known for its farming and being the asparagus capital of the world.

“There are other towns in Massachusetts where they could put energy storage systems and comply with their law, but I would really not want Hadley to be one of them,” Mackin said.

For Tony Fyden of Cold Spring Lane, the bylaw makes him nervous because it fits with the state’s Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting Recommendations to streamline permitting for renewable energy projects.

Fyden contends that this state panel wants to take municipal permitting out of the equation and would mean “steamrolling” communities. “They’re coming after the farmland, they’re coming after the forests, they’re coming after everything they can get,” Fyden said.

The bylaw would spell out where battery storage can be permitted, including all residential agricultural and industrial areas, but would be excluded from aquifer protection districts, which make up half or more of the town’s land mass.

Planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski said planners are trying to put controls in place since the state requires them to be allowed, though regulated.

“If this were to fail, there is a chance the attorney general could say put it anywhere you want, and if we don’t have a bylaw, it could be done without control,” Maksimoski said.

Planning Board member Mark Dunn said the bylaw is about promoting safety. “I don’t think we’re going to get away with saying not in our town,” Dunn said.

Planning Board member Joseph Zgrodnik said there is good justification to not allow battery storage in the aquifer protection area due to potential leaks. “This seems like a pretty effective compromise,” Zgrodnik said.

The bylaw spells out that there would need to be a fire hydrant within 300 feet of actual storage compartments, a request made by the fire chief and similar to subdivision regulations requiring hydrants every 500 feet; spill containers around anything that has liquid in it, holding 110% of the battery’s rated capacity; and all containers and spill containment should be fire resistant and fire proof to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lithium batteries can undergo thermal runaway and may explode and cause destruction through chain reaction, said Planning Board member Michael Sarsynski.

“Kind of like what almost happened at Three Mile Island, or did happen at Chernobyl,” Sarsynski said.

Maksimoski agreed that an explosion could be a problem.

“There is nothing that will protect against an explosion,” Maksimoski said.

“Except not having it there,” Sarsynski said.

“That is correct,” Maksimoski said.

The hearing will continue April 16.

Balise Subaru, Chase Bank

In other business, the Planning Board resumed its hearing on the Balise Subaru dealership’s plans for a 31,563-square-foot building, including a 1,400-square-foot mezzanine, at 315 Russell St., replacing the Steve Lewis Subaru.

The board learned that a request for a Zoning Board of Appeals variance to a town prohibition on external illumination of signs on the building has been dropped. In addition, the board agreed to allow up to 80 square feet of signs on the building, exceeding a 64-square-foot cap, because the existing pylon sign is only 50 square feet. Essentially, the board would allow Balise to trade the smaller pylon sign for a larger building sign.

But the board wouldn’t support 102.43 square feet of signs on the building.

“We have a sign bylaw that was adopted by Town Meeting, and what Hadley wants is smaller signage,” said Board Clerk William Dwyer.

Many stores that once had larger signs, like Steiger’s and Woolco, still went out of business, Zgrodnik said. “It’s the service you are going to offer, not the signage,” Zgrodnik said.

The board also accepted changes to construction drawings for the proposed Chase Bank building at 375 Russell St.

Josh Kline, a representative of Stonefield Engineering & Design in Boston, said that a contractor is hired and a groundbreaking is close following a recent pre-site walk through.

The complication for the bank, to be built at the edge of Hampshire Mall, is the continuing Route 9 road construction and sidewalk installation that may impact the site.

But Building Commissioner Tom Quinlan Jr. said he has no issues with the bank construction getting underway.

Planners also unanimously approved a revised lighting plan for the Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel being built at 237 Russell St. The parking lot at the hotel will have lamps that rise to 25 feet tall, rather than just 15 feet tall, but there will be fewer of them.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.