East Windsor 1st Selectman Asks State Regulators to Reject Solar Farm

In recent testimony to the Connecticut Siting Council, First Selectman Jason Bowsza called on Council members to reject the proposed East Windsor Solar Two project. “We have done our part as citizens in Connecticut towards large-scale renewable energy projects,” Bowsza told the Council on September 7, 2023. PE1572-Towns-Pre-filed-Testimony-of-First-Selectman-Jason-E-Bowza_a.pdf

If the proposed facility EastWindsorSolarTwo_CSC_Petition (ct.gov) is approved by the council, the development will be located on nearly 36-acres of agricultural land in a residential area at 31 Thrall Road. The same applicant owns East Windsor Solar One, a 30-acre solar farm on Middle Road, adjacent to a residential neighborhood.

Bowsza told the council that the proposed project is incompatible with East Windsor’s Plan of Conservation and Development, which seeks to preserve the “rural, village and business character” of the town. Along with the erosion of farmland, Bowsza said residents have environmental concerns with the proposed solar farm including stormwater runoff, groundwater contamination, and fire hazards.

The Connecticut Siting Council is a state entity that has legal jurisdiction over the siting of power facilities and public utility services, leaving municipalities with little control in the decision-making process. Bowsza told the council that a “small handful” of rural communities are now being forced to host renewable energy projects and that small towns have “had enough.” Bowsza and area state legislators continue to work on a legislative remedy to give communities more control over the siting of solar farms.

The Connecticut Siting Council is accepting written statements on the East Windsor Solar Two project for the next 30 days. Connecticut Siting Council