Category Archives: Preferred site

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→

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→

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→

Are solar siting standards in the draft Town Plan too lax?

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Imagine Norwich clear cut of all trees and replaced by acres and acres of solar panel farms. Far fetched – yes. But, such a scenario is supported by the Renewable Energy Project Siting Standards at pages 28 and 29 in the Planning Commission’s draft of the Town Plan. I submitted a written public comment to the Planning Commission on this topic, which is at the end of this blog post. Here is my thinking in 6 sentences. Under the draft Continue reading Are solar siting standards in the draft Town Plan too lax?→