By Paul Morden, from www.theobserver.ca The Observer
The company seeking to build two 20-megawatt solar energy projects in St. Clair Township is listening to its neighbours, says Mayor Steve Arnold.
At an open house First Solar held at the Moore Sports Complex on Earth Day Thursday, Arnold noted plans for one of the sites now include changes based on what the company heard at an open house in January.
The layout of the solar plans was adjusted to avoid having to cut part of a woodlot, and berms were added.
A construction entrance was also moved for one of the projects.
“They’re listening to the input from the people and the township,” Arnold said.
The company, which already operates a solar farm in Sarnia, wants to build another next to Highway 40 at Rokeby Line, north of Suncor Energy.
A third is planned for farmland east of Baseline Road, between Bethpath Line and the McKeough Floodway.
First Solar’s Peter Carrie said Thursday’s session is expected to be the final formal open house, but added the company will still accept comments from the public.
Carrie said the company has also been talking with the immediate neighbours of the two sites.
“We’ve laid out some tree screens and berms in some locations as visual shields.”
First Solar plans to submit its application to the Environment Ministry within the next month, Carrie said.
The ministry’s technical evaluation is expected to take about six months and the company hopes to begin construction in 2011 so it can bring the sites online that fall, he said.
Observer Article ID# 2546643
Posted in: Headlines