Public Hearing on Solar Farm 3/17/16

A Public Hearing on Solar Ranger’s Proposal solar installation on what was once the old Barker Farm in Ludlow will take place on Thursday, March 17. A site visit will be held at 3 pm at the Barker Farm property with a public hearing taking place at 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. 

The proposed Coolidge Solar Project will be up to a 20 MW of solar generation consisting of up to 95,000 solar photovoltaic panels installed in linear arrays on both sides of Barker Road on lands referred to as the “Barker Farm” near the intersection with Nelson Road and Quent Phelan Road. The lines needed to connect the solar project to the VELCO station cross Cavendish land, which automatically gives the town “party” status.

The Ludlow Select Board has approved this project, while Green Mountain Power does not support the plan.

The governor and other administration officials have cautioned that the project and similar ones proposed earlier this year are out of scale with Vermont's energy needs. And officials at Green Mountain Power, which would be the obvious utility to buy the power, also are skeptical.

 "One thing we're always focused on is this moving toward a new energy future, where it's generated and used closer to where it's needed, and is it cost-effective? And in looking at this project, with the information we have right now, it's not passing those two screens for what is important for our customers and what they tell us they'd really like to see happen," said Kristin Carlson of Green Mountain Power. WCAX