SOUTHWICK – A hearing on a solar array proposed at 63 Congamond Road was continued this week.
SunDurance Energy LLC presented a plan, including storm water management, to the Planning Board Tuesday.
Nick Gibson of SunDurance outlined the ground-mounted project which would use 36 acres of the 197-acre parcel.
“We have a 150-foot setback and no issues with wetlands,” Gibson said.
John Arata of Carbon Finance Strategies, SunDurance’s partner on the project, noted they were not seeking another variance and said the installation would be hidden from the road.
“There will be landscaping so you won’t see it, and there will be an eight-foot fence around the project with privacy slats,” said Arata.
There would be full access through the site for emergency vehicles.
Board Chairman Douglas Moglin asked how the array would connect to power.
“We will connect at the road,” said Gibson. “We have filed for a connection to Western Massachusetts Electric Company.”
Arata said they expected to begin a six month construction next year.
He assured the board that agricultural activities would continue around the project.
Vice Chairperson Roz Terry said this was the first solar project that would come under the new bylaw adopted at Town Meeting this past spring.
Arata said their plan was to “follow the bylaw 100 percent.”
“Since this is the first we will probably put a lot of the bylaw in as conditions,” said Terry.
Two neighbors of the property – Norm Storey and Richard Goodchild – asked several questions about the project, including plans for future expansion and water concerns.
Arata said this project is the first of two planned phases in the area. This project is known as Southwick I, with the next phase known as Southwick II. The second would be south of the 63 Congamond Road site and would have to come before the board as a separate project for permitting.
Arata said Southwick II is a “more complicated” project and could include the relocation of tobacco fields owned by the Arnold family.
Following the presentation, the board continued the hearing to Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
SunDurance Energy, LLC designs, develops, builds, and operates megawatt-scale solar power solutions for commercial and industrial, federal government, and utility-scale markets. Its services include up-front investment, procurement of the optimal solar technology for application, design, construction, permitting, monitoring, managing green credits, and engineering, as well as offering capital purchase option for customers to own their solar power systems. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Edison, New Jersey.
Arata is the founder of Carbon Finance Strategies LLC – an integrated environmental financial services company to address all facets of GHG-related deal structuring and risk-management.
