Public Hearing July 31 on Fourth Solar Project in Harpersfield

HARPERSFIELD  –  A public hearing will be held Wednesday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Colonel Harper Grange Hall in Harpersfield on a proposed solar project off Bruce Hill Road in the town of Harpersfield. It is the third project proposed for property owned by the Eklund family and the fourth project in the town overall.

The Delaware County Planning Board approved the project on July 3, proposed by Blue Wave Solar, provided a road use agreement and decommissioning plan are negotiated with the town.

Two other solar projects have already been approved by the Harpersfield Planning Board on the Eklund property. Those projects will also be accessed off Bruce Hill Road.

The first two projects will be constructed on the north side of Bruce Hill Road, while the third project is proposed on property that faces state Route 10 on the southern side of the roadway.

The third project is known as Bruce Hill Road C Solar. The project has been shifted from its original proposal to locate on a less steep slope, creating a roadside swale for runoff and a reduced capacity due to a double racking of the solar panels. This will reduce the amount of acreage disturbed and will keep the project located on one side of the access roadway. It was originally proposed as a 5.3-megawatt project on 34.85 acres, using an existing access roadway. It is also located in the New York City Watershed.

The project will be visible from certain points along County Route 18 and other vantage points. Visual impact has been a concern of the planning board as well as groundwater recharge. 

Issues that remain, according to Dean Darling, planning board chairman, is a road use agreement to address any damage to town roads during construction for all three projects, and a decommissioning plan.

The town of Stamford and the village of Stamford have received information regarding the proposed project, due to its close proximity to the town line and village of Stamford.

The proposed site plan is available at the Harpersfield Town Hall and online at www.townofharpersfield.com.

The hearing will be held at the grange hall to allow more room for the public and will be preceded by the regular monthly meeting which starts at 7 p.m.