Construction Begins On Enfield Solar Farm At Former Driving Range Site

ENFIELD, CT — Nearly a year after closure of a popular golf driving range in the Hazardville section of Enfield, construction work has begun on a nearly 20-acre solar farm on the site.

The Pleasant View Golf Park, situated at 110 North Street since 1993, had leased the property since its opening. The 34-plus acres of land, including the adjacent St. Bernard Cemetery, was purchased for $950,000 by the Catholic Cemeteries Association of the Archdiocese of Hartford (CCA) in 2009, according to Enfield property records.

On April 25, 2022, the CCA filed a petition with the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC), asking for a declaratory ruling that a Certificate of Environmental Compatability and Public Need would not be required for the construction, maintenance and operation of a 4.0 megawatt alternate current ground-mounted solar photovoltaic facility on the property.

An unsuccessful petition by residents not wishing to lose the only golf practice facility in town claimed the siting council ignored one of its primary responsibilities listed on the State of Connecticut website, "to minimize damage to scenic, historic and recreational values."

In its application, the CCA wrote, "No state or local designated scenic roads or scenic areas are located near the site and therefore none will be physically or visually impacted by development of the project." The application also indicates, "The nearest public open space is the Scantic River State Park, approximately 0.56 mile south of the facility." There is no mention in the application of "recreational values."