Siting Council gives East Windsor solar farm green light
Feb. 27—EAST WINDSOR — The state Siting Council on Thursday unanimously granted approval for construction of Gravel Pit Solar, a 485-acre solar farm slated to become the largest of its kind in the Northeast.
The approval marks the final significant hurdle for the project's developers, D.E Shaw Renewable Investments, or DESRI, and North Light Energy. They anticipate construction to begin this summer with the bulk of it occurring in 2022, Aaron Svedlow, director of development for Gravel Pit Solar, said.
"We are very pleased with the Siting Council's unanimous decision to approve Gravel Pit Solar's certificate," Svedlow said. "Gravel Pit Solar is an exciting project that will provide significant benefits to the town of East Windsor, the state of Connecticut and the New England region."
SOLAR FARM APPROVED
WHAT: State Siting Council unanimously approved 120-megawatt solar farm Thursday.
WHERE: To be built on 485 acres between Apothecaries Hill Road and the south side of Plantation Road.
NEXT: Finalizing the design and securing construction permits.
The proposed project is a 120-megawatt solar development that will straddle several sites between Apothecaries Hill Road and the south side of Plantation Road.
Developers said the project would generate enough clean energy to power 23,000 homes for customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
When the project is complete, DESRI will become the town's largest taxpayer. Under an agreement approved in June by the Board of Selectmen, the town will get $378,000 in taxes annually plus $1.5 million for infrastructure improvements.
Upon completion, DESRI will become one the town's largest taxpayer, First Selectman Jason E. Bowsza said.
Selectman Alan Baker said when the project is fully active it will contribute significantly to the town's commercial tax base.
"I am also sensitive to the fact that a percentage of the project is using farmland and it is my goal as a selectman to ensure our open space fund is replenished so we can conserve more farmland in the future," Baker said. "The open space fund is an extremely important tool for our community to use to balance our tax base growth with our environmental stewardship responsibilities."
On top of that, the development will also significantly reduce dust, noise, and truck traffic, as well as illicit activity in the gravel mines, such as off-road, all-terrain vehicle riders and various other festivities.
Bowsza said the developers have been team players since the entire process began.
"The town is looking forward to continue working with them, as well as the jobs it will create, and the revenue it will bring in," he said.
Meanwhile, some residents on a Facebook post questioned why the town wouldn't receive any of the power generated from the solar farm, or at least a discount on the delivery fees from Eversource Energy?
Bowsza responded by saying that is not how utilities are governed in the state.
"We could have entered into a power purchase agreement with them for town and Board of Education buildings, but we already have an existing one with another company, which is set to expire at the end of the year. Even if we had, it would have saved us only around 15% on our energy bill, which is about $75,000. Alternatively, we will make $378,000 per year in tax revenue and eliminate an attractive nuisance," Bowsza wrote.
Svedlow said that over the next few months, developers plan to continue finalizing the project's design and securing the additional permits required to start construction, as well as submitting a Development and Management Plan to the Siting Council.
For updates on East Windsor, Windsor, and Windsor Locks, follow Joe Chaisson on Twitter: @TheJoeyChaisson, Facebook: Joe Chaisson, and Instagram: @JIJoeChaisson.
