By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
WEST AMWELL — The Zoning Board of Adjustment will continue the public hearing for a controversial solar energy facility during its regular meeting Jan. 25.
That may not be enough time for a new law governing commercial renewable energy installations to get on the township books.
The Township Committee was scheduled to introduce an ordinance Jan. 1 during its reorganization meeting. However, committee members decided to table the ordinance’s introduction to give them more time to study it.
The next regular meeting of the Township Committee is Jan. 26. The committee has changed its regular monthly meeting date from the first Wednesday of the month to the fourth Wednesday.
West Amwell currently has no official guidelines in place to deal with solar energy generators or other renewable energy facilities.
The Zoning Board’s public hearing will resume with further testimony from the applicant, Green Power of West Amwell. The hearing began in November and continued Dec. 28.
Green Power contends it is a public utility and should not have to apply for certain variances because of that designation. Opponents disagree, saying Green Power is a private generator for profit.
Additional variances being sought include those to exceed the maximum 6-foot fence height and to build on a plot that does not abut a public street.
Neighbors have said they are not against solar energy, but they are opposed to Green Power’s trying to use property that is zoned rural residential for a commercial purpose.
Opponents have voiced concerns about the noise such a facility would generate as well as the destruction of neighbors’ views.
Green Power has proposed the installation of 8,456 solar panels on about 10 acres of rural residential land adjacent to Music Mountain.
Each panel would be 79 inches long and 39 inches wide, with a maximum height of 8.8 feet.
The panels’ glare-resistant glass would be angled at 39 degrees. The plan asks for an 8-foot fence topped by barbed wire.
Four inverters to convert the current would each measure 89.5 inches tall and 9 feet long.

