Solar parks generate few concerns

By John Howell
Posted 7/12/16

Glare, a humming noise, and a loss of trees and wildlife habitat were primary concerns raised by neighbors to one of two solar parks being proposed by Southern Sky Renewables for Warwick.

Ralph …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Solar parks generate few concerns

Posted

Glare, a humming noise, and a loss of trees and wildlife habitat were primary concerns raised by neighbors to one of two solar parks being proposed by Southern Sky Renewables for Warwick.

Ralph Palumbo of Warwick, managing director and owner of the company, is looking for Planning Board and City Council approval of the parks that collectively would generate about 6.3 megawatts of power and give the city a discount starting at approximately $200,000 on its electric bills for the next 25 years. Last Wednesday at an informational hearing held by the developer and attended by City Planner William DePasquale at City Hall, neighbors to the parks got to see plans and ask questions about both developments.

The smaller of the two parks comprised of 10 acres is proposed for a vacant parcel on West Shore Road adjacent to Amtrak north and east of the Apponaug underpass. Southern Sky would buy the property, which has wetlands and according to abutting neighbor Steve Laprocina is a “pig sty” of scrap and dumped materials.

Laprocina said the solar park – which would cost $2 million to build and “disturb” about half the site – “could be good if [the developer] put everything in there.” He asked whether there would be “guarantees” for all that Palumbo is promising. As the solar panels would be below Laprocina, he fears they would reflect, causing glare especially in the late afternoon and early evening.

Plans show the park surrounded by a six-foot-high chain link fence and a buffer of evergreens along West Shore Road and bordering Laprocina’s property.

While the parks would be a passive use of the land with periodic visits for maintenance, they can be a source of noise when generating power. Depending on the inverters used, there can be a hum about the volume of a washing machine. Palumbo and his team didn’t get into specifics about inverters.

“I’m a skeptic,” Laprocina said. “What’s the guarantee [there won’t be a hum]?”

Carol Greenless, another neighbor to the West Shore Road solar park, said she enjoys the wildlife in the area and the potential of that loss “bothers me a lot.” Yet Greenless favors “green” and sustainable energy.

The second solar park of 36 acres is part of the former Leviton Manufacturing property. A portion of the land is wetlands and comes under a conservation easement. It has been identified as a brownfield from the dumping of industrial waste. This solar park would generate 5.5 megawatts and cost $12 million to build. Solar panels and equipment related to the park would cover about 19 acres of the site.

Under the terms Palumbo is proposing, the city would receive equivalent to a 2 cent per kilowatt hour credit toward its electric bill from the two solar parks, amounting to an estimated $200,000 the first year. Depending on the cost of electricity, it could go up from there, he said.

Palumbo is also offering to pay the city about $35,000 in taxes, although under legislation approved by the General Assembly this year, equipment used in the generation of sustainable power is exempt from tangible taxes. The agreement would require approval of the mayor and City Council.

Attorney K. Joseph Shekarchi said Southern Sky is slated to come before the Planning Board on July 27 and the expectation is that it would be heard by the City Council in September.

DePasquale pointed out that the city can place conditions on the developments and the purpose of the introductory, informational hearing is to gain feedback before the formal process begins. As for the proposed projects, and in particular the West Shore Road park, he noted that land is zoned for residential development and another form of development is possible. He urged people to attend the Planning Board hearing and council meeting.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • richardcorrente

    My only concern is the cost vs. value to the Warwick taxpayer.

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Tuesday, July 12, 2016 Report this