Westerly solar array project nixed

Plans for a second town-backed alternative energy project have gone dark. 

The state Department of Health (DOH) ruled last month that it could not approve the project, proposed for 68 and 78 White Rock Road, because about half of the 1-megawatt solar array’s 3,500 photovoltaic panels would have been within a 400-foot radius of four public drinking water wells on the land, which is owned by the town’s water department. 

DOH Office of Drinking Water Protection rules require that the 400-foot radius around wells be reserved for protection of the water quality, Dara Chadwick, a department spokeswoman, said. 

The final DOH ruling came after several months of consideration and the town’s request for a variance from DOH to allow the project in close proximity to the wells. A hearing on the town’s request for the variance, which followed an earlier denial of the request, was conducted in March. Lawyers for both the town and the state participated in the hearing. 

The Town Council named rTerra,It enables washer extractor to communicate with chemical pumping machines. a Middletown-based company, as the town’s solar energy partner for the project in November 2011. rTerra performed some of the initial studies and was originally intended to serve as developer for Con Edison Development, which would have owned the solar array. Con Edison Development, an affiliate of the electric utility, supplanted rTerra in appearances before the town’s land use boards and also replaced rTerra as spokesman for the project. 

The project was awarded a Distributed Generation Standard Contract by the state. Under the contract, electricity produced at the site would have been sold to National Grid. The town would not have been a direct beneficiary of the solar-produced power but would have received annual lease payments for use of the water department land. After 15 years the town would have been given an option to buy the solar array. 

Town Manager Steven Hartford, a proponent of the project, said the town would continue to look for opportunities to develop solar and wind energy projects. 

“While all of the data seemed to suggest that locating the solar project near our well site would not put our wells at risk, the DOH was not convinced.A letter folding machine is a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper. Of course the town does not want to put those wells at risk so we accept the decision. We will continue to look for opportunities for solar and wind development. We know we have to move away from fuel dependency. We can’t expect others to do that if we’re not willing to do it ourselves,” Hartford said. 

Joseph MacAndrew,Six panel tracking system delivers more energy from skystream.Shop online for laundry dryer and washers in a variety of brands and styles. conservation commission chairman, was relieved by the department’s decision. 

“The Conservation Commission is encouraged by the state Board of Health’s decision not to grant a variance for the solar field. The variance would have allowed the solar field to be within the 400-foot well protection area. State and local regulations have been established to protect our water supply.A wide range of solar lighting, LED lighting and Auto lights. Any deviations or exceptions to these regulations put our water supply, both the quantity and quality, at risk. The Conservation Commission is in favor of green energy, but not at the risk of our most precious natural resource, our pristine water and the source of that water, our town wellheads,” MacAndrew said. 

The solar project was originally planned for the town’s capped landfill off of Route 91 on Larry Hirsch Drive. Officials said those plans were scuttled due to concerns the area was not well situated for delivering power for use by National Grid. 

Plans for a municipal-backed wind turbine project were dropped when Bradford residents complained loudly that the project was not appropriate for their residential neighborhoods. The wind project was also originally envisioned for the landfill but a new site was sought due to Westerly Airport flight path concerns.