Neighbors object to Webster solar energy project – News – telegram.com

WEBSTER – A proposal to construct a 5-megawatt solar farm with about 17,800 panels off Upper Gore Road, on more than 130 acres of privately-owned forest, has neighbors up in arms.

On Monday, the Planning Board continued a public hearing on the plan, after receiving a letter of concern from state Sen. Ryan C. Fattman, R-Webster.

The project is on land zoned residential/agricultural, but state law calls for solar energy systems to be allowed regardless of zoning districts.

Mr. Fattman’s letter states that he has learned of the large “industrial solar development” proposed in the Blueberry Hill neighborhood.

He said the plan calls for large-scale deforestation and is “much larger” than guidelines set forth in the state’s model solar zoning guide.

In light of the legislator’s letter, Planning Board Chairman Paul LaFramboise told a standing-room-only contingent Monday that the board would continue to review the matter, and the hearing was continued to Sept. 10.

BlueWave Solar of Boston petitioned the board for a special permit and site plan approval.

The project would be on more than 130 acres of vacant and undisturbed land, with more than 30 acres to be cleared; the panels would be fenced in, within 22 acres.

The project has 40 abutters in Webster and Douglas.

About 59 acres of the land is owned by Victor Stefaniak Jr., while the other 75 acres is owned by the Janet S. Konkel Revocable Living Trust.

Tina Gorski-Strong of nearby Longview Avenue wrote in her letter of opposition that the parcels contain watershed areas and streams that feed into Webster Lake, the town’s greatest natural resource. She said the project would disrupt the ecosystem, uprooting habitats of wild animals.

Homes in the area could be devalued, as they were built to be away from large industrial developments, she added.

In an interview, abutter Chad Pepin of Blueberry Hill suggested that the town’s bylaw needed clarification on siting and size restrictions, and the purpose of the bylaw should not be to simply green-light projects of any size on any parcel.

According to the state Department of Energy Resources, the agency discourages using locations that result in significant loss of land and natural resources, including farm and forest land. Significiant tree-cutting is problematic, the agency said, because of the important water management, cooling and climate benefits that trees provide.

The agency also discourages solar energy systems near wetlands or watershed areas.

Mr. Pepin said the BlueWave project compromises on all three areas, and is essentially a worst-case scenario.

Mr. Pepin also noted that he and most of his neighbors use private wells for their homes.

“People say it’s far enough away, but you don’t know how hydrology is going to behave,” he said.

He added: “They already showed in plans that they’re going to put retention pools at the base of this thing, to contain the water.” Mr. Pepin suggested that was an admission to a dramatic change in how water is to behave on the property.

Mr. pepin went on to express concern about the company’s use of chemicals for anti-vegetation, and cleaning products for the thousands of panels.

The police wrote that they had no issues with the project, and the sewer department and Board of Health offered no written commentary.

Fire Chief Brian Hickey wrote that the solar farm’s access road must be at least 18 feet wide from start to finish, with a turnaround, and that any access gate would require a Knox Box rapid access system.

According to the company website, BlueWave has developed and built more than 130 megawatts of projects and provides community solar power access to thousands of customers, both through its solar farms and through farms developed by others.