The city’s planning commission has approved a 21-megawatt solar farm, covering 60 acres. City planners say the solar panels will provide renewable energy. But some residents opposed the project. They say the solar farm will harm land that could be set aside for conservation. Douglas Doe, a neighbor of the property, said the project will harm visitors’ enjoyment of the nearby forests.
“So anybody going to enjoy the conservation land that we paid for is going to be confronted by one chain link fence, a gravel road, and anywhere from 40-60,000 solar panels,” said Doe.
Doe said the deforestation and noise created by the solar farm will damage the rural area. But City planner Jason Pezzullo said the solar panels will provide clean energy without damaging the land.
“This piece of land is still open space,” said Pezzullo. “Okay, it’s being used as solar, but it’s still open space. So you still have a chance to preserve it.”
Pezzullo said the solar farm has a more temporary impact than a housing development, which was also proposed for the property. The solar farm will last around 20 years.
Developers hope to start building the solar farm next spring after securing the necessary permits and approvals. Cranston approved a different solar farm last year, but it has been delayed by legal challenges.
