Printed: 1/22/2023 1:36:55 PM
BERNARDSTON – After receiving a particular approval allow in 2019 to construct a photo voltaic array crossing the Bernardston-Greenfield line, a global renewable vitality developer has returned to the Planning Board to alter plans for the positioning. and particular permission.
After additional evaluation of its preliminary plans, Pacifico Vitality, primarily based in Japan and with workplaces in Boston, eliminated the Greenfield portion of its venture and proposed additional improvement at 52 Bernardston Highway.
“It’s totally shady land and it may be a bizarre row structure,” Pacifico Vitality North America Properties Director of Growth Kris Pitney stated of the Greenfield plans, including that the timber in that space are in protected wetlands. “It is a fantastic venture, so we’re persevering with the trouble to make the adjustments.”
The brand new plan proposes a further 5.5-acre array in Bernardston, bringing the overall acreage of photo voltaic panels to 18 acres. The overall acreage of the property is roughly 71.6 acres, in line with Laura Lefebvre, a advisor with TRC Firms.
“This land is underutilized. This venture… will convey financial advantages to the city,” stated Lefebvre.
Because the Planning Board has already authorized two of the arrays in Bernardston, an approval that concerned three of the board’s present members, a lot of the main target of final week’s presentation and transient evaluation of the positioning plan was on the most recent -o addition.
“We’re simply involved with the change upstairs,” stated Planning Board Chair Christina Slocum-Wysk.
In reviewing the city’s website plan standards, the Planning Board had no challenge with any of Pacifico Vitality’s plans or its impression on the neighborhood, which Lefebvre and Pitney stated could be minimal. The corporate plans to maintain all of the land in place, even after doing a little minor grading.
Lefebvre stated the 6.5-megawatt facility could be “low-profile” as a result of the photo voltaic panels could be lower than 15 ft tall and the residences surrounding them could be greater than 1,500 ft aside. -on with pure visible limitations.
“It is a fantastic website as a result of it is set again to residential and you’ve got the freeway right here,” he stated. “It is backfired so much.”
Regardless of the change in plans, Pitney stated Pacifico Vitality will nonetheless promote the ability generated by the arrays to Eversource. Building, if the venture is authorized, will start later this yr and the arrays are anticipated to be operational by the tip of 2023. Pitney stated the photo voltaic amenities will “go up rapidly.”
With the preliminary website plan presentation and evaluation mentioned, Slocum-Wysk stated the Planning Board will proceed its public listening to till Thursday, February 2, at 6:30 p.m. to deal with the particular modification. that Pacifico Vitality allow.
Chris Larabee will be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.
