By JEFF EPSTEIN
[email protected]
WEATHERSFIELD, Vt. — The town planning commission asked questions about a proposed solar energy plant at its Monday meeting. The public has until Nov. 5 to lodge comments or motions with the Vermont Public Utility Commission about the project, planned for 4678 US Route 5 in Ascutney.
Plans for a five-acre, 500 kilowatt solar project owned by Weathersfield Solar Partners have been underway since at least February, when the project contractor, groSolar (now named EDF Renewables) of White River Junction, requested and received a letter of support from the town, signed by the commission, the select board, and the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission.
The applicant then requested a Certificate of Public Good with the Vermont Public Utility Commission. However, Green Mountain Power was not ready to review the project at that time, and the public comment period was placed on hold. Green Mountain Power issued a feasibility study on Sept. 17 that said as long as the project would agree to make certain technical improvements and pay for them, it was fine for the solar plant to go forward and hook up without further studies. The public comment period then opened shortly thereafter and runs to Nov. 5.
Project representative Allen Tate said the project plans to sell the power it produces, which will result in a substantial savings for customers, according to planning commission minutes.
EDF Renewables has previously stated that screening prevents the site from being seen by the neighbors, and there are no batteries or noise. However, town land-use administrator Sven Fedorow questioned that at the Monday planning commission meeting, asking Tate about specific locations where he thinks the plant may be visible.
“I noticed that references [in earlier EFP testimony] are made to ‘direct views’, which implies there may be indirect views,” Fedorow asked.
Tate replied that the entire projects is surrounded by a 50-foot setback, “a substantial buffer.” The project will not be visible from Route 5, he added. However, answering another of Federow’s queries, Tate said he would be willing to bring the question of additional landscape screening back to EFP Renewables.
The only remarks from the public were favorable comments from the couple that is reportedly leasing a portion of its land to Weathersfield Solar Partners for the project.
The planning commission does not have direct authority to approve or deny the application, according to Federow. The select board was said to be interested in the matter, however, and in order to accommodate those members wishing to attend, the commission re-arranged its agenda to push back discussion of the solar project. When it was brought up at 8:25 p.m., however, no members of the select board had arrived, although town manager Ed Morris was in attendance.
The end of the discussion and any action the planning commission took place after the EagleTimes’ deadline.
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