100-Megawatt Solar Plan Eyed In Granby, East Granby

GRANBY, CT — Residents will have a chance next week to learn more about a proposed 100-megawatt solar energy project planned for former Monrovia nursery land in Granby and East Granby.

Broadleaf Solar is hosting an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 17 in the Community Room at the Granby Senior Center, 15 N. Granby Road #C, according to an event flyer shared by the Town of East Granby.

The presentation, hosted by Broadleaf/DESRI, will cover the proposed solar installation on the former Monrovia site in Granby, East Granby officials said. A separate event is also expected to be held in East Granby later this summer, according to the town.

East Granby residents are encouraged to attend either or both sessions to learn more about the project.

According to draft application materials posted by the Town of Granby, the proposal calls for a 100-megawatt ground-mounted solar photovoltaic facility across portions of Granby and East Granby. The draft application identifies the applicant as Solar Nursery LLC, an affiliate of DESRI Holdings LP.

The project area includes land near Salmon Brook Street, Wolcott Road and Floydville Road, according to the draft application. The materials describe a project area of about 443 acres on parcels totaling about 775 acres.

The proposed facility would include solar panels, inverters, buried electrical collection lines and an interconnection line to move power to the grid, according to the draft application.

Granby has posted a dedicated project information page with the draft application and related exhibits, including site plans and materials covering wetlands, farmland soils, stormwater, visual impacts, sound, emergency management, soil protection and decommissioning.

The project has not received final approval. In a May memo, Granby Town Manager Mike Walsh said Broadleaf Solar planned to file an application with the Connecticut Siting Council on or around July 1. The Siting Council, rather than the town, is expected to have approval authority over the project.

Broadleaf Solar’s website says the project would generate enough clean energy to power about 15,000 homes. The company also says the project would bring tax revenue to Granby and East Granby, generate construction jobs and limit sound and visual impacts.

According to the draft application, if approvals are received in the first quarter of 2027, construction could begin in spring 2027 and commercial operation could begin in May or June 2028. Construction is estimated to take about 12 to 14 months.

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