Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Quick Article Index . . .
Westport’s
bylaws allow for solar projects to be built in residential/agricultural zones.
WLCT Camara Conservation Area opening draws crowd.
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Westport’s
bylaws allow for solar projects to be built in residential/agricultural
zones. EverythingWestport.com Sunday,
December 10, 2017 Photos |
EverythingWestport.com Letter to the editor, Clean Energy Collective (CEC) is the developer
of a community solar project discussed in an article and editorial published
in the November 30 edition. CEC was founded in 2009 as the first community
solar company in the country, and we are still focused solely on community
solar. Our project development operations are run
out of our Worcester office. Thus, we strongly value and work for community
involvement in our projects and seek to be a responsible member of every
community where we operate. That often involves significant effort on our side
to adjust the plans, construction, and operation of our projects, and the
projects we have built and are developing in Westport are no different. We believe the November 30 article and
editorial call for clarification of the specifics on the Horseneck Road
project in question. In particular, it is worth noting the following: ·
The total land area of the parcel in question is 39
acres; only 17 acres will be used for the solar project, with the remaining
22 acres left as-is and wooded. ·
CEC is committing to multiple levels of screening of
the visual impacts of the project. All solar panels will be a minimum of 100
feet from property lines. Existing 30 foot tree lines will be left in place
along property lines. We will install a new 8 foot high wooden fence and
evergreen planting to screen from all residential properties. ·
In addition to engineers hired by CEC, engineers hired
by the town have reviewed and approved the design of the stormwater
management system and agreed that no flooding will occur on abutting
properties. ·
Westport’s bylaws allow for solar projects to be built
in this zoning district; further, the property could certainly be developed
by the owner for other residential purposes if not used for solar. ·
This project will generate decades of property taxes
paid with little stress generated upon local services. ·
Unlike many other forms of land use and especially
energy production, solar farms make good neighbors: they do not smell, make
noise, or pollute the local environment. We are confident that many residents
of Westport appreciate the benefits of local clean energy generation. ·
By providing clean energy to the electric grid, the
project will generate enormous environmental benefits over its lifetime: over
111,000 tons of CO2 emissions avoided. This is the equivalent of growing more
than 2.8 million trees from seed, or preserving over 900 acres of woodlands.
As the town and planning board consider the
project, we ask that these efforts to make the project fit within the
community be kept in mind. We recognize that differences of opinions occur
amongst neighbors, and will incorporate the opinions of the folks neighboring
this project however we can, while still preserving the ability for the
property owner and CEC to build the solar project. We hope that the town’s decisions will be
based upon a clear-eyed and fair review of the facts at hand, including the
significant environmental and economic benefits that the project would create
for Westport. Tom Hunt Chief of staff, Clean Energy Collective WLCT Camara
Conservation Area opening draws crowd. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, December 10, 2017 The conservation land now boasts a half mile of hiking trails and
there is a contiguous network of open space extending from Camara Conservation Area into the city of Fall River,
Massachusetts and town of Tiverton, Rhode Island. At the opening ceremony,
Westport’s Community Preservation Committee Chairwoman, Betty Slade,
emphasized that protection of the property is critically linked to protecting
clean water entering the Watuppa Ponds. Irene and Bill Camara, for whom the property
WLCT’s President, Trip Millikin,
said that the Trust was, “fortunate to have been able to protect such a large
property in the north end of Town and that our work to improve public access
on the property will continue into the foreseeable future.” The informational kiosk and trails on the property were part of
neighbor John Messier’s eagle-scout project. Together, Messier and Troop 100
worked to rid the property of tires and miscellaneous debris which had been
dumped on the property decades prior. WLCT’s
Stewardship Coordinator Brendan Buckless, described
working with Messier and Troop 100 as, “a joy to see young people working
with their hands and learning how to manage land.” Messier’s uncle, owner of
Messier Construction RRM, Inc. located in Tiverton,
donated the materials and hardware for the trailhead kiosk to his nephew for
the project. Messier and his father, a carpenter by trade, assembled the
kiosk together over the summer. WLCT Executive Director Ross Moran, said
that, “the project underscores Westport’s continued commitment to protecting
natural resources,” and that, “this project would not have been possible
without the support of the Town and the local community.”
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