Category Archives: Solar

Update on the Upper Loveland Road Solar Project: Developer Objects to PUC Order for Town Review

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Is the controversial Upper Loveland Road solar project coming back to the Town of Norwich for review? The Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently issued an order directing the developer of the solar panel farm, an entity related to Norwich Technologies, to confirm ongoing support from the Town as a “preferred site.” The PUC order in that case (21-3587-NMP) specifies four significant changes to the project, since the developer made its presentation to the Planning Commission in July 2021, including increased Continue reading Update on the Upper Loveland Road Solar Project: Developer Objects to PUC Order for Town Review→

Neighbors/Intervenors allege ‘bait and switch’ on Upper Loveland Road solar project

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A group of ten residents say Norwich Upper Loveland Solar LLC engaged in “bait and switch” behavior in obtaining preferred site status, from the Norwich Planning Commission and Selectboard, for its over 8-acre solar project off of Upper Loveland Road, near the cell tower. The project is in the Ridgeline Protection Overlay zoning district of Norwich. The ten residents also say the visual impact of the project has changed, since the Planning Commission and Selectboard blessed the project. The residents Continue reading Neighbors/Intervenors allege ‘bait and switch’ on Upper Loveland Road solar project→

‘Preferred siting’ for solar is back on Selectboard agenda

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The Selectboard will hear a presentation from Town Manager (and Director of Planning) Roderick Francis on the topic of preferred siting for solar projects at its meeting on February 23. It is agenda item #7. However, no materials on that item are in the Selectboard packet released on Friday for the meeting. Preferred site status for solar panel farms sparked outcry at the February 9 Selectboard meeting. Several neighbors near the proposed 8-acre Upper Loveland Road project are asking the Continue reading ‘Preferred siting’ for solar is back on Selectboard agenda→

FYI: Site video and plans of the proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm

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A video of the proposed solar panel farm location was posted on YouTube by Ameridane Press on February 9. It is available below and here. To give that video more context, below is a portion of the Act 250 Site Plan. It was submitted to the PUC by Norwich Technologies in the CPG proceeding for the proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm. However, I believe the map dates back to the permit for the cell tower over ten years ago. Continue reading FYI: Site video and plans of the proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm→

A group of residents asks the Selectboard to rescind preferred site status granted to proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm

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A group of six residents is asking the Selectboard to rescind the preferred site status the Town granted to a proposed Upper Loveland Road solar panel farm in August. The neighbors say the project violates the Town Plan. In addition, they complain the Selectboard made no specific effort to notify property owners abutting the site. The matter is not an agenda item. The letter dated February 3 (“Letter”) is in the Selectboard packet for the February 9 meeting, at page Continue reading A group of residents asks the Selectboard to rescind preferred site status granted to proposed Upper Loveland Road solar farm→

Selectboard mailbag: Preferred site status for solar

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In the packet for the Selectboard meeting on April 14, 2021, is correspondence to the Selectboard on an issue of concern to me. That issue is the Town Plan’s declaration that essentially all land in Norwich is a preferred site for solar development. At page 1 of the packet is a memorandum from former Selectboard member Steve Flanders. In it, he questions the “advisability of that approach.” The memorandum makes two key points. First, designating specific parcels sends a better Continue reading Selectboard mailbag: Preferred site status for solar→

[Update] Protect ridgelines or allow solar?

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The Norwich Selectboard will not object before the PUC to a solar facility being built in a ridgeline protected area. That position won the day, notwithstanding the community values against such development articulated in the Town Plan. As noted in my original post, the property owner has made no effort to show that the solar facility will have no impact on views. “They haven’t done the work,” said Planning and Zoning Director Rod Francis at the Selectboard meeting. Nevertheless, the Continue reading [Update] Protect ridgelines or allow solar?→

Protect ridgelines or allow solar? Norwich Selectboard may decide at its 9/23 meeting

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In the packet for the Norwich Selectboard meeting on Wednesday, September 23 is a filing with the Vermont PUC seeking approval to build a small (in relative terms), ground-based solar panel farm on Tucker Hill Road. See map above. The Net-Metering Application is in the Selectboard packet for 09-23-2020 under correspondence at page 18. Although not obvious in the PUC application, the project is located in a ridgeline protected area designated in the Town’s zoning regulations. I thought ground-based solar Continue reading Protect ridgelines or allow solar? Norwich Selectboard may decide at its 9/23 meeting→

Family objects to solar panel farm in ‘front of our house’

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The relaxed solar siting rules in Norwich have possibly claimed its first casualty. A family whose home is across from the proposed 150 kW solar farm on Turnpike Road recently wrote to the Selectboard to complain. “[We] were shocked to discover the proposed site for this very large installation is directly across Turnpike Road from the front of our house.” In the past, the Selectboard had the power to step in and exercise some control over site selection on undeveloped Continue reading Family objects to solar panel farm in ‘front of our house’→

On my Soapbox: new Town Plan excludes community from solar siting decisions

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“Thanks for keeping it local,” is a Norwich mantra. Except … when it comes to the siting of solar panel farms. In that case, the Selectboard and Planning Commission think its okay to punt those decisions to the PUC. It is part of the new Town Plan, adopted by the Selectboard on Saturday, March 7. The old Town Plan, adopted less than two years ago, took a case by case approach to commercial solar projects. Many Vermont towns do the Continue reading On my Soapbox: new Town Plan excludes community from solar siting decisions→