By DIANE VALDEN
ANCRAM—The Ancram Planning Board will continue to hear comments on a proposal to install a solar facility at 3333 State Route 82 during the continuation of a public hearing on the application, May 1.
Several neighbors spoke during the April public hearing objecting to the project based on visual and environmental impacts.
The Planning Board opened the public hearing at its April 3 meeting on a site plan and special use permit application filed by Ancram PV, LLC/RIC Energy, a solar development company, for a 957 kW AC ground-mounted solar photovoltaic farm. The Planning Board declared itself lead agency on the project, which is referred to as Ancram Solar and is proposed to be constructed on 9.92 acres of a 94.78 acre parcel owned by James P. and Janice M. Miller.
The parcel, a farm field off State Route 82, is in an agricultural district on Millerhurst Farm.
The project description says, “The project is defined as a Community Scale Solar Energy System, and is permitted… within the underlying Agricultural Zone with Site Plan and Special Use Permit approval,” according to Ancram Zoning Code.
This ground-mounted solar project will be constructed by driving posts into the ground and consists of 2,116 solar PV modules, 3 inverters connected to 1 transformer. The height of the solar structures will be 12 feet high, 6 to 8 feet wide and 3 to 5 feet long.
The purpose of the project “is to provide clean energy to the existing electrical grid,” according to section of the Full Environmental Assessment Form.
The project entrance is about 960 feet northwest of the intersection with Skyline Road and Route 82 using existing site access. The project will interconnect with a Central Hudson Gas & Electric 13.2 kV distribution feeder running adjacent to Route 82, connected to the Ancram Substation, according to the project description. On-site utilities will be installed underground with the exception of a section of the generation interconnect line being overhead per interconnection design requirements.
Ancram Solar is a standalone ground-mounted system, mounted on a single axis (sun) tracking steel structure (the panels move with the sun). The perimeter fencing around the project will be a high-tensile, fixed knot wildlife-friendly fence that meets requirements set forth in solar zoning law, the description says. No buildings and no lighting is proposed for the project. Post construction maintenance will be minimal and performed by private contractors.
RIC Energy Project Manager Robert Queirolo and Assistant Project Manager Ciara Hopkins gave a presentation about the project at the April meeting.
Among the points the presentation made were that:
*The project has limited visibility because it is set back 1,446.93 feet off Route 82 and is surrounded by trees and vegetation
*The panels are made of “safe materials:” aluminum frames, glass, food grade plastic and silicon
*Groundwater is not at risk
*The project is fully compliant with the zoning code and no variances will be required
*A bond will be posted to cover 150% the cost of removing the project “in the unlikely event that it is abandoned”
*The project has a “light footprint”
*The project creates enough energy for about 200 homes per MW. This project is just under one MW
*The intensity of sound generated at the inverter source is 60 decibels, which was likened to a toilet flushing, and gets progressively less farther away. The sound was described as “humming.” A noise study included in the application has more detail
*Project construction from beginning to end will take an estimated 5 months. Project life is usually 25 to 30 years.
Doreen O’Sullivan, a neighboring property owner, wrote a letter to the Planning Board saying she is concerned about the shift from an agricultural to industrial landscape and possible expansion of the project in the future. Her complete letter is available at www.ancramny.org/commercial-projects/.
Andrea Bell, also a neighbor, spoke about Ancram’s scenic beauty and said it was the reason her father bought the property and built the home, nestled into the landscape, where she now lives. She said the project is going to be an “eyesore.” She presented photos of the view she will have of the project outside her window. She said that due to the topography, the project will not be shielded by the hedgerow or vegetation and she suggested moving the project to a more “visually screened” parcel.
Emily Miller, a member of the Miller family who also owns land and lives on Millerhurst farm, said, “This is historic agricultural land…I’m sure my father-in-law is rolling over in his grave thinking about what’s going to happen to this property.” She said she can see the field in question from her house and the hedgerow that is supposed to be screening it “is nothing but dead trees and grapevines…it’s not screened.” Ms. Miller said she has a petition she wants people who oppose the project to sign.
Planning Board Chairman Joe Crocco subsequently adjourned the public hearing until the board’s site visit to the property, which was slated for April 5 depending on the weather or until the board’s next meeting May 1 at 7 p.m.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com