Electricity From Proposed Solar Project Might Serve Sharon

A roughly 3,520-solar panel project eyed off Sharon's Route 1 might provide electricity to this community.

hopes to finish securing its permits by September and finish construction at 8 Commercial St. and R Commercial St. by Dec. 31, attorney Joel Fishman, representing the Norwalk, Conn. firm, said Friday.

"We would hope to sell it to the town," Fishman said.

"We're having discussions with the town as to whether they're interested in buying our power."

The Sharon Zoning Board of Appeals approved the project's site plan following a public hearing Wednesday night at the .

The Sharon Conservation Commission and Town Engineer Peter O'Cain also must approve facets of the project, Fishman said.

That public hearing is likely in August, after the lack of a quorum canceled a discussion scheduled for July, he said. Green Renewable LLC has filed a notice of intent with the commission, while O'Cain will review stormwater management issues, he said.

Consultant Thomas Houston said the commission and the Department of Public Works have hired him to review the project.

Zoning Board Chairman John Lee said town officials have discussed this project since January.

"There's been a lot of work done with the town engineer. A lot of the town boards have been meeting. Town counsel has been heavily involved with this," Lee said, and also noted Houston's role.

Fishman read from town counsel's correspondence on this topic, which included the firm saying that "solar facilities cannot be prohibited, because they are a protected use" under state law.

However, town counsel feels the ZBA can put "reasonable" restrictions on the use, Fishman said.

Two "heavily wooded" parcels totaling 10.2 acres form the site, Fishman said.

The back of the site includes a utility easement to connect to an NSTAR pole to go out, said Jeffrey Wootan, director of business development and renewable energy for Broadway Electrical Co. Inc.

Fishman said Broadway is the project's likely solar contractor, and that Wooten is providing pre-construction services.