Neighbor News
East Windsor 1st Selectman Testifies on Siting of Solar Projects
Proposed Legislation Would Give Towns More Input on Solar Farms in their Communities
In recent testimony to a legislative committee, East Windsor First Selectman Jason Bowsza advocates for more representation from local communities in the Connecticut Siting Council’s decision-making process. “I believe that municipalities should have a more impactful role in the approval process of the Siting Council,” Bowsza told the Government Administration and Elections Committee. Bowsza submitted testimony to the GAE Committee on HB 5453 An Act Concerning the Membership and Process of the Connecticut Siting Council. The siting council makes final decisions on telecommunication and energy projects, such as large-scale solar projects.
Bowsza is recommending changes to the bill that include greater municipal representation on the council, consideration of the cumulative impact of sited grid-scale projects on communities and the need to locate those projects more equitably around the state, and consideration of local plans of conservation and development (POCD) in the Siting Council’s decision-making process.
While HB 5453 includes adding municipal representation to the council, Bowsza says the bill doesn’t go far enough in ensuring effective local representation. “To remedy this, I would ask the committee to consider requiring one of the permanently appointed positions to be a current or former chief executive officer of a municipality. This would ensure that a consistent municipal voice as part of the Council’s decision-making process.”
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In his testimony, Bowsza also recommends changes to HB 5453 that would further limit any one region of the state from having a disproportionate share of the state’s renewable energy generation. “A small handful of communities should not be asked to carry the weight of those renewal energy targets...” according to the First Selectman.
Bowsza also suggests that the bill be further amended to require the Council to consider local plans of conservation and development when acting on project applications. Municipalities are required by the state to prepare those plans at least every ten years. A POCD is intended to detail a municipality’s vision for the future development of the community.
Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
To read details of HB 5453 and First Selectman Bowsza’s testimony to the GAE Committee, click on the links below.
