Nov 29, 2022 —
The city of Canton’s planning board accepted a 5-megawatt photo voltaic mission at its assembly on Monday. The 25-acre mission is certainly one of a number of proposed photo voltaic farms within the metropolis of Canton which have confronted public opposition.
About 25 individuals attended the general public listening to concerning the photo voltaic mission on Meade Street. Most of these current got here to talk towards it.
Residents have expressed considerations concerning the lack of agricultural land, the potential impacts on native wildlife, and the elimination and disposal of photo voltaic panels when the mission ends. It’s scheduled to final 30 years.
Jim Rose owns Boyden Physique Works, an auto restore enterprise subsequent to the positioning. Till not too long ago he lived close to it, too. He not too long ago offered his home to his son. Rose mentioned he’s not towards photo voltaic vitality however this isn’t the correct place for it.
“Like I mentioned about the best way they received the design and the flooding in our yard or their yard now and concerning the yard of the enterprise. So, a variety of issues, the wildlife. The lifestyle,” Rose mentioned.
The builders of the mission are US Gentle Power primarily based close to Albany.
The planning board carried out a State Environmental High quality Overview. It concluded that the one wildlife that might be affected had been monarch butterflies. Nevertheless, builders are dedicated to planting pollinator vegetation between the photo voltaic arrays. They may even plant native bushes alongside the boundaries to create visible buffers and preserve potential wildlife habitat.
Brian Brewer was the one individual to talk in favor of the mission. He’s the proprietor of the 25-acre property the place the photo voltaic arrays will likely be situated. He’s a cattle farmer.
“So, that is 25, 30 acres. I can take the cash from that and I’ve entry to a different 200 acres that I can take this and make my different land extra helpful,” he mentioned in the course of the public listening to.
The mission was first proposed in 2020. Brewer says he misplaced cash due to repeated delays within the planning course of.
Approval by the Canton planning board carries an extended listing of situations that builders should meet earlier than they’ll start set up. Amongst them is a fee in lieu of tax or PILOT settlement with the city board and a neighborhood profit settlement, which should even be negotiated with the city board.
Subsequent Monday, the planning board will maintain a public listening to and assembly concerning the different photo voltaic mission. That’s on freeway 310 alongside the border of the village. Just like the photo voltaic farm on Meade Street, it has already confronted opposition from some residents, the province, and barangay officers.
