RIPLEY — Ripley Town Board members recently held a special public hearing regarding a proposed community solar garden.

Jodi Hunt, senior project manager, gave a presentation via ZOOM on all aspects of the project.

“This project is an alternative for people who want clean, renewable energy, but do not want the solar panels on their property,” she said.

Council members initially received a presentation on the proposed “community solar garden” from Hunt at their Oct. 14 meeting. Town attorney Ben Wisniewski reminded board members that the Clean Choice Energy project, which will be located at 5246 Route 76, is a smaller project than the South Ripley Solar Project and does not include battery storage.

Hunt also stressed that there will be no large central inverter on the site. Each solar panel will have a single line that goes directly to the existing utility company, she said.

“The infrastructure is already there,” Hunt said. “The electricity goes directly to existing distribution circuits.” After the electricity is sent directly to the utility, it can be sent to homes, businesses and schools.

The solar array will be located on a 65-acre site. Thirty of these acres will be used for the solar project, Hunt said. The three things that factored into the selection of the site on Route 76 were available interconnection, interested land owners and a promising location, she said.

Hunt also described the solar panels themselves. The panels to be installed are low profile, she said. Furthermore, the panels use the same tempered glass as a car windshield so they will not shatter. Hunt emphasized that the posts for the panels will be driven or drilled into the ground.

“There will be no cement,” she said. “So the whole site, upon decommissioning, can be pulled out.”

Hunt also told council members that the vegetation slated to be be planted on the 65-acre site will easily allow the land to be returned to agricultural use after decommissioning. Restorative local vegetation will be planted, which is beneficial to the soil. Also, converting the land from row crops to year-round vegetation will provide protection against erosion and flooding.

Hunt showed board members a conceptual picture of the solar garden, as it will look from Route 76. The illustration included pine trees and shrubs, which will make the site aesthetically pleasing.

As far as environmental health and safety, Hunt said the panels are designed to meet all state and federal standards, including the National Electric Safety Code and New York State Standard Interconnection Requirements. She also reminded members of the public that the State Environmental Quality Review is being led by the town of Ripley.

“Our mission is to make clean, renewable energy accessible to everyone,” Hunt said. “We will be giving the residents of the town the opportunity to purchase the power created by this project.”

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