SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Planning Board has formed an Alternative Energy Subcommittee and is seeking new members.
The first meeting is Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The purpose of the committee is to review, research, and create local bylaws to address the uses for solar or other possible alternative energy within the town for both business and residents.
Subcommittee Chairperson Roz Terry said the board created the subcommittee mainly in response to a proposed bylaw that failed at the spring Town Meeting. At that meeting, Terry spoke in support of the need for some bylaw, but opposed the one on the warrant for several reasons, including that it did not allow for a review by the Planning Board.
“The state already allows this by right, we just want to do what we can to protect the residents of Southwick,” said Terry. “I’m not a fan of cumbersome laws, but I want to give us a little control and protect citizens.”
Terry said she is aware of several solar projects being discussed in town and there are no laws governing alternative energy installations at this time.
Terry’s goal is to create a simple bylaw that would allow for notification to neighbors of an installation and some review by the Planning Board.
The subcommittee, said Terry, has “a handful” of members. However, she hopes residents will come to the meeting Tuesday and join the subcommittee or at least offer their ideas.
“I want to have as much input from citizens as possible,” she said. “I don’t want people to feel a decision has already been made, because it hasn’t.”
Terry said research will be a big part of the process. She said there is a big difference between installing a solar array to sell the energy to an electric company for distribution and a resident who has a few panels to offset the cost of energy on that property.
“It could be considered an accessory use, and we already have bylaws for that,” said Terry,
If the subcommittee is able to meet throughout the remainder of the summer, Terry believes it will have a bylaw proposal for the fall Town Meeting.
For more information, contact the Planning Board at 569-6056.
