New Milford Residents Move to Block Solar Power Farm
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New Britain Superior Court. Courtesy, Google.[/caption] Citing potential dangers to the environment, neighbors of a prospective solar farm in New Milford have appealed a ruling that would permit a Massachusetts-based company to install approximately 15,000 solar panels. Claiming the approval process was rushed and would cause irreparable harm to the environment, Lisa and Michael Ostrove, Rescue Candlewood Mountain and Candlelight Farms Aviation is asking a New Britain Superior Court to overturn the Connecticut Siting Council's ruling OK'ing the project. The project, the plaintiffs argue, was approved without a plan to adequately manage storm water, and would cut through a huge swath of critical forest. The request to overturn the ruling was filed Feb. 1. The project, the plaintiffs argue, would require chopping down nearly 70 acres of forest near Candlewood Lake. In addition, the forest is part of a larger block of contiguous forest, which totals 788 acres to the north of the project site. "Such large, unfragmented forest blocks are a valuable and diminishing resource in Connecticut," according to the complaint. If the ruling stands, the project would be the state's largest solar power farm. The Siting Council signed off on a declaratory ruling on the project for Candlewood Solar LLC Dec. 21, despite opposition by several state agencies, including the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, and the Department of Agriculture. The five-member Siting Council, which has jurisdiction over sites for electricity-generating facilities, claimed the plan would not negatively affect the environment. The council, in its ruling, wrote that the project met all applicable water quality standards. Daniel Casagrande, attorney for the plaintiffs, said Thursday that "there are a long list of dangers" to the project. In addition, he said, the solar panels would benefit only Massachusetts and possibly Rhode Island residents. "Connecticut has been trying to protect, rather than diminish the forest land," said Casagrande, a partner with Cramer & Anderson in Danbury. "We believe there was not adequate information about this project provided to the council, such as the effect on wetland and water sources, wildlife and wildlife habitat, storm water draining and erosion issues." Casagrande continued: "I am optimistic of victory. We feel this was rushed through with an inadequate presentation on a project that will have serious long-term environmental consequences for the people not only in New Milford, but the entire state." In addition to the environmental factors, the complaint states that the glare from the solar panels is a safety concern for the small aircraft using the Candlelight Farms Airport. The project is located half a mile from the airport. The New Britain-based council was represented by Robert Marconi, assistant attorney general. Marconi said Thursday: "I feel that the Siting Council has always done a good job in the past and I look forward to defending them." He did not elaborate. Candlewood Solar is represented by Paul Michaud of Murtha Cullina in Hartford. Michaud did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
