SOUTHWICK — At the conclusion of a joint meeting of the Planning and Select boards, the Select Board voted unanimously to have the Planning Board schedule public hearings to allow residents to weigh in on whether the town should establish a moratorium on the new construction of battery energy storage systems and large solar arrays.

“I think if the result of a public hearing is that the townspeople are looking for a moratorium to go into effect, we would do our due diligence and best to get it onto the special,” said Planning Board chair Jessica Thornton about the attempt to have a warrant article to establish the moratorium ready in time for the Special Town Meeting on Jan. 13.

Select Board member Russ Anderson questioned the attempt to fast-track the process.

“You know, it may not be p

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