Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Swansea to revise solar panel, wind power zoning laws
Credit: By Deborah Allard, Herald News Staff Writer, www.heraldnews.com 28 September 2011 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
SWANSEA – A Zoning Revisions Group has been formed to look at the ever-growing popularity of solar and other types of green energy in town.
At present, a solar farm is being proposed on Baker Road. The School Department is looking to add solar panels to all its buildings. Even the Swansea Mall has expressed an interest in solar energy.
“There may be some others interested,” said Town Planner Steven Antinelli.
Thus far, all pursuing green energy options are interested in solar panels. There has been no interest in wind turbines.
Antinelli said the group, which is not an appointed committee, is working to revise the current bylaws to include wind and solar energy.
The Zoning Revisions Group consists of Antinelli, Town Administrator James Kern, Town Counsel Arthur Frank, Building Inspector David Betts, Conservation Agent Colleen Brown, Zoning Board members Charles Reed and Rick Kirkpatrick, and local engineer Jim Hall.
Antinelli said the bylaw revisions would need a vote at Town Meeting next year.
Solar energy has become increasingly popular since the state enacted a solar rebate program in 2007. Tax breaks and other incentives are being offered to those who have solar panels installed. Other benefits include energy savings and lower electric bills. A big draw has been that customers can sell energy back to the electric company, in this case National Grid, or to other entities.
Baker Road resident Timothy Cabral proposed adding 2,200 solar panels to his property at a recent Planning Board meeting. The issue will go before the Conservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.
The School Committee recently heard a proposal from Solar Energy Hub, a solar developing company, that would lease 86,000 square feet of roof space and 30,000 square feet of ground space at the schools for solar panels. The Committee voted unanimously to issue a request for proposals to learn about competitors.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
(via Stripe) |
(via Paypal) |
Share: