BARKER — Residents and native officers are voicing the upcoming photo voltaic challenge within the city of Somerset.
Among the roughly three dozen people in attendance, 16 spoke on the 90-minute assembly hosted by the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting on Tuesday night time within the Barker High School auditorium. Speakers included Somerset city supervisor Jeff Dewart, city board member Robin Jansen, Niagara County Legislator Shawn Foti and plenty of residents.
The assembly follows ORES’ situation of a draft siting allow to Somerset Solar LLC, a subsidiary of AES Clean Energy Development LLC, for a proposed 125-megawatt photo voltaic array on a portion of 1,800 acres that beforehand hosted the Somerset Generation Station.
Overall, a number of of the audio system expressed considerations in regards to the footprint of the challenge positioned on each side of Lake Road.
“The brownfield positioned within the former coal plant ought to be the primary place the place the photo voltaic panels are positioned, not prime farmland,†mentioned city resident Pam Atwater.
AES personnel, together with Development Manager Mario Rice, additionally attended the assembly.
“That was an enormous theme tonight that we totally anticipated to listen to,†Rice mentioned afterward.
“For probably the most half we perceive the priority, particularly south of (Lake Road). We have dedicated as an organization to not method further landowners and solely use property owned by Somerset Operating Company.â€
Dewart mentioned the city just isn’t against the general challenge, however is worried in regards to the location.
“We wish to see everybody go to the north facet of (Lake Road) if potential, as a result of the south facet has numerous prime farmland that many farmers for over 30 years have been renting from plantations. of electrical energy,†he mentioned. .
The draft allow issued by ORES, dated April 5, 2024, states that Somerset Solar is in search of aid from varied elements of the Somerset Solar Law. While lots of the waiver requests had been denied, the corporate obtained partial aid on points concerning “prime farmland†in addition to decommissioning requirements set by town. ORES additionally mentioned town’s hazardous supplies ordinance is unreasonably burdensome.
Other considerations raised by residents in the course of the assembly had been the effectiveness of renewable power sources, challenge sustainability and using hazardous substances reminiscent of PFAS.
“Non-glare coatings on photo voltaic panels that comprise PFAS and all through their life within the solar, they’re broken and when it rains… PFAS pollutes floor water and floor water. So who will assure that these panels is not going to be used right here that comprise PFAS?†mentioned resident Betty Wolanyk.
While ORES helps the city-mandated minimal setbacks within the draft allow, resident Lindsey Payne expressed considerations in regards to the challenge’s proximity to her residence on Lake Road throughout from the previous energy plant.
“If you have a look at the map of the place they need to put the photo voltaic panels, my home is… the place the photo voltaic panels cowl your entire left facet, your entire yard and your entire avenue (from the property) . They need to put them lower than a soccer area from residence and appear unconcerned,†Payne mentioned.
Rice mentioned AES personnel will quickly start growing responses to the “specific items†mentioned by residents on the assembly.
“We will personal and function this challenge for a very long time, so we need to be good neighbors to everybody on this neighborhood,†he mentioned.
ORES will settle for written feedback on the challenge till 5 p.m. Friday via its web site: https://paperwork.dps.ny.gov/public/MatterManagement/CaseMaster.aspx?Mattercaseno= 22-00026.
