SIGN PETITION

lovemorrisct@gmail.com

TOWN HALL MEETING

FRIDAY, MARCH 20TH, 5 PM

This is your chance to ask questions, voice your concerns, and request the solar company mitigate negative effects

TWO MORRIS SOLAR “FARMS”

The following information is meant to inform the citizens of Morris about two major solar/power station proposals being considered for our town, covering over 40 acres in residential neighborhoods. The proposed sites are located in close proximity to each other and the center of Morris. These types of installations have been researched by scientists, environmentalists, and universities – and there are legitimate concerns.

Please note that a recent proposal has been struck down in Torrington. The Mayor and town attorneys got involved to support the well being of their citizens and environment. These proposed installations are popping up all across CT with many towns pushing back such as Woodbury, Manchester, E. Windsor, Torrington to name a few.

Read on to learn:

details about the proposed locations
concerns related to the environment, public health, property values, and our “right to peaceful enjoyment”
what Morris residents can request of these solar companies
A handful of links are provided down below; there are many more studies and articles available online

WHO APPROVES SOLAR FARM APPLICATIONS

Commercial solar installations do not require approval by the town municipality; the CT Siting Council approves or denies these applications. The Siting Council’s responsibilities include:

balancing the need for adequate and reliable public utility services at the lowest reasonable cost to consumers with the need to protect the environment and ecology of the state and to minimize damage to scenic, historic, and recreational values
providing environmental standards for the location, design, construction, and operation of public utility facilities that are at least as stringent as federal environmental standards and that are sufficient to assure the welfare and protection of the people of Connecticut;

CT SITING COUNCIL – FILING GUIDES

Greenskies Proposal

The Greenskies proposal, petition 1686, involves installing solar panels, and the associated power station, on approximately 20 acres of “designated prime farmland” which is surrounded by wetlands, in the center of Morris. The property is owned by Jim Tillson. These acres border both West Street and South Street. The Greenskies application has been preliminarily approved by the Siting Council pending a list of conditions being met, which includes submitting “a status update on any concerns expressed during the community meeting prior to the commencement of construction.” This community meeting is being held on March 20th 5 PM at the town hall.

Figure 05 – Proposed Project Layout Download

Lodestar Proposal

The Lodestar proposal, petition 1695, also involves installing solar panels, and the associated power station, on approximately 20 acres of “designated prime farm land” near the center of Morris. The acreage borders South Street and the N.Terrell Farm Road neighborhood. Again, commercial solar installations do not require approval by the town municipality; the CT Siting Council approves or denies these applications. The CT Siting Council has not yet voted on the Lodestar application.

If both Greenskies and the Lodestar applications are approved, many residents will be boxed in between two installations.

CONCERNS

Solar energy is widely celebrated as a clean energy solution. Many solar companies (a significant number have foreign parent companies) are installing solar projects across the country. As more studies are conducted, a growing number of critics are raising concerns about the community, environmental, and agricultural impacts of solar array construction. These concerns include habitat disruption, land use, soil health, water contamination, and the health/quality of life concerns for the community. The waste management of decommissioned panels is regulated by the EPA. The solar panels installed by Greenskies and Lodestar both contain lead from solder. Some solar panels also contain forever chemical (PFAS), cadmium, arsenic, and other heavy metals.

Since these projects can have negative impacts in the short term and long term, many feel that they are better located in greyfields (abandoned shopping centers and malls) or brownfields (abandoned industrial sites), or at the least located away from residential neighborhoods.

Before final worksite approval, the Connecticut Siting Council and the relevant solar company are required to determine whether the project causes unacceptable environmental or community impacts, particularly involving:

drinking water contamination
residential proximity
- health and quality of life concerns
wetlands and watershed impacts
endangered species habitat impacts
farmland loss

These factors are usually reviewed under environmental standards reflected in federal laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, as well as Connecticut statutes like the Connecticut Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act.

It is not clear if the Siting Council considers the devaluation of properties abutting and surrounding the proposed site. Studies show homes within a 1/2 mile radius are generally affected.

What Residents Can Request of Solar Companies

MAXIMUM MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS

If either project is granted final worksite approval, Morris residents can request binding conditions of approval. These conditions should be written so they become legally enforceable permit requirements. The project should be denied if environmental impacts cannot be agreed upon.

If the Connecticut Siting Council grants final worksite/plan approval, strict enforceable conditions should be imposed including the following (each point is expanded upon below):

large residential setbacks
layered vegetative buffer zones
stormwater and watershed protection
monitoring
well protections
wildlife surveys and habitat protection requirements; environmental monitoring
fire and hazardous material safety plan
agricultural land/ farmland safeguards
traffic and infrastructure protections
property value protection fund
decommissioning financial guarantees

This approach aligns with how the Connecticut Siting Council typically evaluates contested energy siting cases

1. Large Residential Setbacks

Minimum 300-500 foot setback from residential dwellings
These large area setbacks reduce:
- Visual Impact
- Glare Exposure
- Noise from Inverters
- Safety Risks from Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields

2. Layered Vegetative Buffer Zones

Three rows of evergreen trees (12–15 ft height minimum)
Minimum 50–100 ft vegetative buffer
Advantages to the community and wildlife:
- restricts visual incursion
- lessons or suppresses sound
- encourages and restores wildlife habitat

3. Stormwater and Watershed Protection

This is imperative as these solar plants are located near reservoirs or aquifers

Measures that need to be implemented:

engineered stormwater retention basins
groundwater monitoring wells
runoff filtration systems
independent hydrology review

4. Monitoring

To be conducted by an appointed Independent environmental body

The Morris Community should request:

third-party environmental monitor paid by the developer
yearly environmental impact reports
community access to the monitoring data

5. Well Protections

Required Protections for private wells:

baseline well testing before construction
annual testing during operation
developer-funded remediation if contamination occurs
emergency water supply for residents

6. Wildlife Habitat Protection Requirements

Prior to Worksite Approval the Following Must Be Conducted:

multi-season wildlife surveys
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
habitat conservation plan if endangered species are present

7. Fire and Hazardous Material Safety Plan

What toxins would become air born and rain down on the community if the installation was to set fire? A quick google search will show that this has happened in some communities, so it is possible.

This is needed because the solar framework has electrical systems and hazardous materials
Damage, failure, or combustion of solar panels could release hazardous materials (e.g., lead, cadmium, PFAS) into air, soil and groundwater
- Electrical storms (lightening) can set panels on fire in addition to system malfunction
Mitigation:
- A fire suppression plan approved by the area/responding fire departments
- hazardous material containment response protocols
- plan for emergency response coordination

8. Agricultural Land/ Farmland Safeguards

Possible alleviation requirements/steps:

prohibition on soil compaction
agrivoltaic land-sharing (solar with agriculture)
use of animals such as goats or sheep to address weed and overgrowth in and around the
solar structure, as opposed to the use of herbicides

9. Traffic and Infrastructure Protections

Guidance from the Federal Highway Administration

During Construction:

traffic management plan
road damage compensation
restricted truck routes
dirt/dust/debris control and suppression will be necessary as the soil will be disturbed; water and standing barriers to be utilized. If the dirt/dust/debris is not kept under strict control nearby
residents will be adversely affected.

10. Property Value Protection Fund

Past practice requires developers to establish community compensation funds. Possible relief:

a property value guarantee program, as surrounding homes can see assessment reductions
If surrounding homes suffer an assessment decline, affected homeowners should be compensated
reimbursement for well contamination