Selectboard Peppered With Questions About Solar Site
by Nancy Wood,
October 6, 2011, page 4.....

On Monday evening, summer residents of Thompson’s Point turned out in force for the visit on Flat Rock Road at the site of the proposed solar installation and at the Selectboard meeting that followed. Also in the group were a few year round residents, and several who have both a summer and year round home in town. A recurring theme in the comments of many was the stringent regulations that they are expected to follow to maintain the natural beauty at Thompson’s Point and the incongruity of the Town siting what was labeled an industrial facility in a scenic meadow in full view of the road.

Jane Lawlis pointed out that the Town Plan talks about protecting the trees, wildlife and natural areas of Thompsons Point, and Jack Stetson added, “I don’t want the pristine beauty of Thompson’s Point spoiled. I think there are a lot of better spots for the solar.”

In answer to the question, “Why put it at Thompson’s Point?,” Selectboard Chair Charles Russell described the reasons for rejecting other town-owned parcels: the Plouffe Lane (former town dump) site lacks power; Burns property (including the Flea Market) would require permission from the Vermont Land Trust and Preservation Vermont that continue to hold liens on the property; the Town Pound on Mutton Hill is wooded; trackers would not be appropriate in the view corridor at the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge along Route 7; the land behind the Town Hall is wet and may be too small.

Selectboard member Ed Stone vented his frustration with the process, asking, “Why don’t we put it at the Flea Market? There is a (power) pole right in the middle.” Caleb Elder, representing AllEarth Renewables, said that they didn’t do a lot of evaluation of the Flea Market site because they understood the Town did not favor it.

The Selectboard is considering a lease purchase agreement with AllEarth Renewables for a 60 kW project with 14 solar trackers. They have authorized AllEarth to submit an application for a Certificate of Public Good (COPG) to the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) for an “interconnected net metered power system” that specifies as the site the meadow at the southwest corner of the field at the intersection of Flat Rock and Thompson’s Point Roads. The application was submitted on September 16.

Elder said that “If Thompson’s Point is not where the Town wants it, it would set back the timing of the application.” There is a 30-day notice period during which adjacent landowners have the opportunity to comment. This can be waived if the landowners agree to do so.

Some of the summer residents questioned why only a few people at Thompson’s Point had been notified of the current application for a COPG. Board member Winslow Ladue said he had checked with the PSB and was told that leaseholders do not have party status. However, Elder said that AllEarth had wanted to notify them and those closest to the proposed site, did receive notice of the application.

Timing is important because the opportunity to lease the solar trackers depends upon the project being approved before December 31. On that date the Federal solar tax credit expires. The financing of the lease purchase agreement, which Elder described as a “unique opportunity,” is based on the tax credits. After December 31 the Town’s only option would be to purchase solar equipment outright, which would entail a substantial upfront investment of, according to Elder, $300,000 to $350,000, and long-term payback of about 12 years. With the lease agreement, the upfront cost is a down payment of $1,000, and the project should break even.

The project does not save much in the way of tax dollars, but Elder pointed out that it would provide “100% renewable energy at zero cost for Town buildings.”

Bob Bloch and several other people questioned the lack of actual data for each of the sites considered, especially the land directly behind the Town Hall. Elder said the three sites that AllEarth was encouraged to look at closely were Plouffe Lane and two sites at Thompson’s Point. They preferred the site chosen because there is a power pole right on the corner that can be used, it has excellent solar exposure, it is in the same field as other infrastructure, and it does not appear to be in anyone’s view shed. The site is in the same field as the Thompson’s Point sewer facility.

Avery Hall expressed what he described as a contrary view to that of his Thompson’s Point neighbors, giving credit to the Selectboard for trying to come up with the most logical site for the project. He said it took five years for the Thompson’s Point residents to get Town approval for the sewer treatment facility, which they wanted for environmental reasons, and currently it is the only one serving a summer colony in the Champlain Basin. He felt using another half acre for renewable energy was appropriate.

Later in the Selectboard meeting, after the crowd had left, the board returned to the topic and discussed reopening the site question. They decided to ask Caleb Elder to analyze the suitability of the land directly behind the Town Hall.