Peterborough Planning Board sees preliminary plans for solar project – Monadnock Ledger Transcript

According to William Davidson of Hoyle Tanner Engineering, a proposed solar farm would use about 5.6 acres pf a 12-acre parcel at 538 Greenfield Road  (Route 136) adjacent to Burke Road.

Davidson, representing NH Solar, presented preliminary plans for what could be Peterborough’s largest solar project to date at Monday night’s Planning Board meeting. He presented a preliminary site sketch of the proposed solar array to the Planning Board and members of the public.

“This solar farm would power from 500 to 700 homes with green power,” Davidson said. “My client is building 10 similar projects around the state, and another 15 in Maine. ” 

According to Davidson, each individual solar panel would measure 3.7 feet by 7 feet, with 14 feet of space between the panels.

After reviewing the preliminary site plan, Planning Board members raised questions about the wetlands buffer and the impact of fencing on the wildlife in the area. Planning Board Chair Carl Staley said the that as it is currently designed, the project would be too large for Peterborough’s existing zoning. 

“You would need a variance, and this project is is large that it would be considered to have a regional impact,” Staley said.

Town Planner Danica Melone confirmed that due to potential impact on the power lines in the vicinity,  the proposal for development would be considered to have a regional impact, as power lines to the property would have to have increased capacity to transmit the solar energy generated at the farm. 

“The transmission lines in this part of town do not have the capacity to transmit as much power as these solar panels are going to give out. They will not be able to manage that load,” Melone clarified. “We would have a public hearing and then move to accept it is a development that has regional impact, and then we would notice the regional planning committee, who would also weigh in on the matter.” 

Melone added that “we want to be supporting green energy projects in Peterborough.” Davidson said that the project is currently “in the queue” to get approval for a connection permit from Eversource. 

“They will make the interconnection with the utility company,” Davidson said of his client. “Other, similar projects in the state have been approved for connection. ” 

Planning Board member Lisa Stone advised Davidson to remove all structures, including a chain link fence, from the wetlands buffer, before meeting with the Peterborough Conservation Committee. 

“We want solar in Peterborough, and the Con Comm will help you with this, but they will not want to see anything inside that wetland buffer,” Staley said.

In the public comment portion of the hearing, abutters questioned the possible impact of reflected light at the array, and whether transformers would create noise at the site.

“I’m concerned about how safe it is to live next to a solar farm,” said abutter Nancy Verrazano. “I have researched and found a whole list of concerns, including impact on wildlife and destruction of natural habitat. There is a buzzing noise from the fans which cool down the solar panels. I’d like to see similar project to be able to visit it and understand the impact on the neighbors.”

Peterborough Select Board member Bill Kennedy noted that the town prefers that non-usable land, or “brownfields,” be used for solar and other green energy projects, rather than land that can support housing. 

New Hampshire Solar Parent, LLC which is registered in St. Croix  (American Virgin Islands) is owned by Christian Loranger,  a New England native who spends half his time on St. John.  NH Solar Parent currently has ten solar array projects in the works in New Hampshire, including a municipal solar farm for the town of Belmont.

Staley advised Davidson that Hoyle Tanner’s next step should be to present the plans to the Peterborough Conservation Commission.  Hoyle Tanner has not yet started an application with the Peterborough Planning Board.