The opposition’s executive director, Will Mayer, stated, “Our town is small, we all know one another, and our efforts are not against our neighbours.”
He continued by saying that the project might overshadow the area’s agricultural industry, which has already seen land loss as a result of other types of development.
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As Demand for Green Energy Grows, Solar Farms Face Local Resistance
Swift Current intends to develop a 1,200-acre solar farm on one of the projects that it is funding. Mr. Birchby claims that with the assistance of the neighbourhood, the initiative will have “minimal” impact on their viewpoint.
We want to make sure that any project we do will be a long-term neighbour and a valuable component of the neighbourhood,” he said.
Geenex Solar and EDF Renewables, who are engaged in a distinct solar power plant project, are both located in Clark County.
In an email, Kara W. Price, senior vice president of permitting and development at Geenex, said the two businesses were “ready to present our potential project to Clark County officials and the community, and will provide multiple opportunities for discussion and input.”
Despite declining to provide more information, both businesses said they would not be making any commitments.
The largest municipality in Clark County, Winchester, Ky., which has land use jurisdiction, refused permits for both projects in late summer due to public concerns until a comprehensive plan could be created.
To allay the worries of their neighbours, some developers are installing screens to block out uncomfortable views and making charitable contributions to local organisations. In addition to creating grazing areas, the panels are also being used to build pollinator habitats.
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Another choice for developers is agrivoltaics, a method that enables land to be used for both solar electricity and agriculture. Developers like Boston-based BlueWave Solar, which has elevated panels put in Grafton, Massachusetts, are already testing agrivoltaics in Europe.
According to BlueWave co-founder and chairman John DeVillars, a pilot initiative to increase blueberry production is about to start in Maine.
