The plug has been pulled—for now—on an enormous solar array project planned by the state's largest power company. Green Mountain Power says strong community opposition has prompted them to put their solar array project on land near the state-owned prison in Windsor on hold.
The plan is proposing 19,000 solar panels that would power about 1,200 homes. It would be one of the largest projects in Vermont.
At a recent hearing in Windsor about 60 people showed up, and nearly all were opposed to the project. They cited concerns about it blocking the scenic views of the mountains and about the loss of wildlife habitat and grasslands for nesting birds.
“And frankly some were concerned it's an eyesore,” says John Gregg, the news editor of Valley News, who has covered the issue. “And they also I think it goes back to that classic issue of local control .”
That’s because it falls to the Public Service Board to greenlight a renewable energy’s project’s certificate of public good, which allows the project to go forward as long as it meets local zoning rules.
Residents want a stronger voice
The town doesn’t have much say, says Gregg.
“One of the opponents, John McGovern, has said that problem with what's known as Section 248, with these siting of renewable energy projects, is that it's a bulldozer of a process.”
Residents are concerned that these towns don't have a voice. Much of the town land belongs to the state, and residents would like to see it for purposes that that they want: recreational use, protecting wildlife, hunting, trails, etc.
Gregg says the state agencies are now going to try to come up with a land use plan that meets all needs.
“I think there's really a jurisdictional discussion going on here,” says Gregg,” whether Buildings and General Services, which controls the prison land, is going to have jurisdiction.”
“The state itself acknowledges that Fish and Wildlife is probably the best steward for the overall 900 acres but what happens to this you know 35 to 50 acres and who controls that is still up in the air,” he says.
Vanishing federal tax credits
Currently the project would receive federal tax credits, but those are set to expire next year. Still Gregg says his understanding is the project is still economically viable on its own.
“One of the folks in Windsor said they had been told by Green Mountain Power that it would still potentially be viable even without those credits.”
Still there is political pressure to build more renewable energy projects to meet the state’s goal a goal of having at least 55 percent of its power come from renewable sources by 2017.
“What folks are saying is, ‘you know we've all gotten used to seeing some solar panels along the way,’ but 19,000 might sound like a lot to some people,” says Gregg.
Gregg says the state agencies will be convening to figure out next steps.
The Windsor select board is slated to meet on Tuesday night, but hasn’t yet taken a formal position,” says Gregg.
“Though so far they’re certainly glad to see this application put on hold until the broader question of the land use management can be resolved.”
