BERNARDSTON — Plans for a solar farm at the border of Bernardston and Greenfield, in the field on the west side of Route 5 near Townline Creamy, are in review by both towns’ conservation commissions.
The installation would be 13.3 acres, with about four acres in Greenfield and the rest in Bernardston, according to documents submitted to the Greenfield Conservation Commission by the developer, Pacifico Energy.
Bernardston’s Conservation Commission opens its hearing on the project tonight at 6 p.m. at Bernardston Town Hall. Greenfield’s Conservation Commission discussed the project on Tuesday night for the first time since opening the hearing in November.
Plans for a similarly sized solar farm in central Bernardston drew attention this fall, when the Conservation Commission questioned how the installation might affect a flooding problem in a park slightly down slope from the location, and some residents attacked the project for its potential effect on the town’s aesthetic. At the end of November, the town came to a tentative agreement with the developer regarding a stormwater management plan and visual screening with trees and other plants, but technically the project is still under review.
In this case, protection of nearby wetlands will likely be the primary concern for the conservation commissions. Since opening its hearing in November, Greenfield has hired an environmental consultant.
Contact Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261 ex 261.