http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150916/NEWS02/709169867
Published September 16, 2015 in the Rutland Herald
Complaint heard about weedy Springfield solar field
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — The Select Board agreed to put pressure on the developer of the North Springfield solar facility at the corner of routes 10 and 106 to tidy up the overgrown and weedy site.
Resident John Graves complained to the board Monday night about the project by Dennis McPadden, saying it was in a prominent spot entering Springfield and gave a bad first impression.
“That is a real eyesore with the weeds growing,” Graves said, adding that a resident wouldn’t be allowed to let their lawn get that overgrown and weedy. “This place needs to be cleaned up,” he said.
“Can you tell them to straighten that up? It’s like they don’t care,” Graves said.
Select Board Chairman Kristi Morris said “maybe their properties could be better maintained,” and added that the town would try to use its influence to have the solar facility “mowed and kept as orderly.”
Graves said he was perplexed why the state didn’t give the towns any say over the building and maintenance of the solar projects.
“Why doesn’t the state give the towns any authority to question these people?” he said.
Morris said that the town had recently signed a contract with McPadden to receive solar-generated electricity, but from a different solar facility in North Springfield.
“We can contact Mr. McPadden. If we are purchasing power from him, we don’t want our property looking like that,” Morris said.
The other McPadden solar array, a joint project with Green Peak Solar, is off Cemetery Road in North Springfield.
But Graves’ biggest concern was more than the high weeds growing up between the rows of solar panels. The town is virtually powerless, he said, on a key issue.
He said he supported solar and wind generation, but towns needed to have some control.
Also, Graves raised concern about the loss of farmland to the solar projects, and pointed to a proposal in nearby Ludlow where 125 acres of current hayfields could be converted to solar panels by a New York City developer, Ranger Solar LLC.
“I disagree with the use of agricultural land. We really don’t have enough of it anyway,” Graves said.
While the solar developer does need land, he said, he shouldn’t use land being used by farmers.
“Why don’t the communities have a say?” he said.
The Select Board said it wasn’t a town issue, but a decision by the Legislature to give that authority to the Public Service Board, which has the control over the development of all power generation facilities in the state.
“I have to say I agree with you, John,” said Selectman Peter MacGillivray, adding that despite common perception, the town doesn’t have the authority to force people to maintain their properties so it doesn’t adversely affect the value of neighbors’ properties.
In my home town, if you don't mow your yard the town will do it for you and add a charge for doing it on your tax bill !!
ReplyDeleteTime to go home.
DeleteWhile the 'weedy' solar field may look unkempt to our eyes. The milkweed, goldenrod and other plants ares perfect for native pollinator insects that need a continuing supply of flowers but are being killed all over our countryside. We NEED these insects to pollinate our food plants. I see evergreen shrubs planted on the border to the fence in the picture. Another few years and no one will see anything.
ReplyDeleteLibertys' death knell continues to peal in Springfield.....
ReplyDelete...but then no one cared when the horses were in there and the uneatable plants grew. ... maybe they should gravel it? or worse spread asphalt and have all the water run off into the river instead of soaking into the ground.
ReplyDeleteAll the dumpy property in this town and we are complaining about the weeds on this property?
ReplyDeleteFits in well with the dozens of other eyesores throughout town. Get used to it, all part of Scumlin's renewable initiative that made his personal friend a multi millionaire. But hey, you idiots in Spfld overwhelmingly voted him and his cohorts back in again last fall. So you have only yourself to blame.
ReplyDeleteThe solar industry is a non sustainable enterprise funded by tax generated subsidies, then sold back to us at inflated rates!!!! In time the economy and energy markets will shuffle this out and these defunct eyesores will linger for generations like a Chernobyl neighborhood.
Sheep might be a solution here:
ReplyDeletehttp://articles.philly.com/2015-07-05/news/64093299_1_ewes-sheep-solar-farm
" On at least three sites in the state, the animals have proven to be handy counterparts for the energy systems by acting as landscapers around the solar arrays - further reducing harmful emissions by eliminating the need for lawn mowers and weed whackers.
In Lawrenceville, Mercer County, about 70 of the grass trimmers arrived at a private school's 31-acre solar facility last weekend. With the new transfers adapting well, 30 more are expected to be added this weekend to the site, which provides much of the Lawrenceville School's power.
That arrangement marks the second for KDC Solar, a Somerset County, N.J.-based firm that several weeks ago placed dozens of sheep on a large site in Vineland, N.J., where it owns and operates a solar system powering a frozen-food distributor.
Some say the efforts - seen elsewhere in the country and overseas - could spark further inventiveness in terms of finding additional uses for grounds occupied by solar infrastructure."
Anonymous 9:11, while you are right in a sense. This particular parcel is very highly visible, and used to be a nice pastoral scene in front of one of the few new subdivisions in town. It is unfortunate, that no public official seemed to question its location at the time of the Certificate of Public Good. My guess is that the notice probably went into Bob Forguites wastebasket, wonder if the Plan Commission paid any attention either. Hopefully, the Town will put pressure on them to clean it up.
ReplyDeleteanon 11:40, do you envision migrant worker sheep? That could be a tie-in to the slaughter house that's a near neighbor. Give the mutton-to-be a treat before the knife.
ReplyDeleteSheep manure is good fertilizer, so once the process begins it will be awkward to stop.
Here's my .02.........my neighbor doesn't like to mow his lawn weekly or more like I do. His lawn is an eyesore but I can't complain because, IT ISNT MY PROPERTY TO WORRY ABOUT! I keep to myself and make MY property the way I like.
ReplyDeleteCan a suggestion be made that the solar area be cleaned up? Yes but does the owner HAVE to clean it? Nope
Putting sheep in there? Gravel? Paving it? Why should they? So you don't have to look at weeds? C'mon man! Clean your property up perfectly, make sure you weed whack around each tree and then you can complain
What you fail to grasp is, the condition/appearance of your neighbor's property and the neighborhood in general is a major factor in the value and salabity of your home. That my friend is why zoning exists.
DeleteAs a local employer in the tecnology sector I can vouch first hand, I have yet to interview anyone with critical job skills that wanted to relocate their family here. Bottom line, Springfield is a lousy place to live, raise a family and build equity.
Kind of hard to decide whether this hypothetical person is more influenced by conditions in town or by the frequently voiced perception of them that you share. There may be a downward spiral that you are just adding your weight to. No thought of pushing back?
DeleteI remember a time up until 3 years ago when each year, the highway department used to weed whack the large banks on River Street. Now, it's an overgrown mess of sumac trees, poison ivy - and just generally unkempt. Sort of like the junkyard that has sprung up behind the fire department. My point being, there are many many places that need attention in places all over town.
ReplyDeleteThose who complain about solar farms are likely more concerned about the solar panels than the wild plants that grow among them. They are just looking for an angle from which to launch their attacks.
ReplyDeleteWith all the problems the Select Board should be concerned about, wild flowers (weeds to some) growing near solar panels should be at the very bottom of the Select Board's priority list. When delapidated and dangerous properties adjoining the Black River have been stabilized and repaired, such as the Parks and Woolson building, and a host of other abandoned factory buildings with environmental issues rectified, then the Board may have time to address wild flower issues.
You are probably right about the 'anglers', but those decaying industrial buildings are pretty much useless and need to be torn down, not 'stabilized'. Then the town fathers could do something to encourage productive use of the properties. The J&L (old plant) and Bryant buildings on Clinton Street are in attractive locations for businesses, eh? Not so much Parks and Woolson.
DeleteYou think weeds look bad? Take a look at that junk shop on 131 in Ascutney just off the I 91. What a mess. Guess Ascutney has no zoning on messy crappy yards or 'store fronts'. Eager for snow fall to cover it all.
ReplyDelete