The Shaftsbury Solar Project is in Shaftsbury, Vermont, saddled between Hale Mountain and Harrington Cobble, on a property with 182 acres of mostly gently rolling fields and forests. Approximately 104 acres have been proposed for development into a solar electric generation facility. Solar panels for 20 MW electric generation will be placed on 80 acres. Further clearings of forests, fields, and soils are called for to remove shade-casting trees, create temporary laydown yards, onsite graveled access roads, temporary new access for heavy-duty vehicles, and a stormwater management system that includes scraping soil to build berms and installation of five gravel wetlands.
Members of the Shaftsbury Select Board heard about and discussed a proposed solar project screening ordinance this week. The purpose is to evaluate the visual impact of projects, not to accept or reject the overall projects themselves.
SHAFTSBURY The Public Utility Commission’s visit to the proposed Shaftsbury Solar project site suggested the opening sequence of “Gilligan’s Island” – except it was closer to a four-hour tour.