By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR Amid increasing concerns and fears about a Mercer County Community College solar farm, the Township Council agreed to request a courtesy review about the farm from the college and the Mercer County Improvement Authority.
Because the school is a public building operating on county land it does not need to hold a public hearing on this project. However, the council agreed it wouldn’t hurt to ask both entities to come to West Windsor to give more information about the project and address homeowner concerns especially those who live along South Post Road and Old Trenton Road.
Township Attorney Michael Herbert said if the college agrees to grant West Windsor a courtesy review, they would also be able to listen to suggestions from the planning board and public.
”They’re not required to abide by those suggestions, but are asked to at least give answers,” said Mr. Herbert.
Through the Mercer County Improvement Authority, the college plans to build a 9.5-megawatt ground mounted solar array on 67 acres on its West Windsor campus making the $40 million project one of the largest college solar installations in the country.
The solar farm could potentially save the college up to $1 million a year in energy costs and prevent about 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
However, concerned residents continue to worry about possible impacts such as environmental safety, storm water runoff, drainage problems, wildlife destruction, loss of farmland and the uncertainty of health hazards.
”I feel the community college has flagrantly disregarded the concerns of residents and taxpayers. I’ve received 250 petition emails requesting this gets stopped,” said Councilman Bryan Maher. “The open space we paid for with our hard-earned tax dollars are being converted into an energy plant to benefit a company that’s not even in this community.”
At the April 30 council meeting, resident Nicole Miller emphasized the project’s possible financial burden on the town if the Sunlight General Capital contractor fails to pay back the $30 million in bonds over the 15-year period.
”If the company fails, the debt goes to the county and there’s a guarantee in the bond offering where the county can levy taxes to pay back this debt,” said Ms. Miller. “To go forward with this, there seems to be a lot of risks off-loaded to taxpayers.”
Homeowners Richard Campbell, Teresa Lourenco and Patricia Vizzoni questioned the project’s accountability at the meeting, stating the college continues to be uncooperative and uncommunicative.
The group had previously set up an online petition against the solar farm and drafted letters requesting a stay on its development.
Councilman George Borek proposed to take the issue further and get legislation drafted on future solar farms that would allow local jurisdictions to have the authority to review the projects.
”They thought it was a good idea, but didn’t take into consideration the impacts on local jurisdictions they took ‘home rule’ away from us,” said Mr. Borek. “No matter where it is, if it’s in West Windsor, it should come through review.”Councilwoman Linda Geevers warned council and residents of the consequences of not being proactive.
”You live here, this is your backyard. This is farmland. This is West Windsor. This is our heritage here,” said Ms. Geevers. “This is a land issue and if we don’t speak up now, then forever hold your peace because these projects are going to start coming in.”
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said he would do whatever he could to ensure a meeting and that county freeholders are now aware of the issue.
”We will continue to make phone calls to make sure they provide meetings to give us the information we need,” he said.
