Will you be clearing trees for this project?
Only the area hosting the array and a small bordering area for shade management will be cleared of existing trees, stumped in phases, and eventually transitioned to pollinator meadow. Most of the cleared area is enclosed inside the fence and includes most of the access road, the equipment pad, and energy storage system. The area outside the fence will return to a vegetation mix and woodland habitat over time, although it may be managed to limit tree height. There will be no clearing or impact to the 100-foot wetland buffer anywhere across the site. 

Will our water quality be negatively affected?
The Project has been designed to control Project runoff and fully complies with Massachusetts Stormwater Management Standards, with stringent review expected by town authorities which will also most likely include a peer review. During construction the Project will incorporate stormwater best management practices designed to manage flow rate and quantity of surface water runoff.  A Water Resource Impact Evaluation performed by Northeast Geoscience Inc (NGI) concluded there is unlikely to be any water quality impacts for residential, domestic well water that would occur due to either the construction or long term operation of the solar array. The report included guidance from the MA Department of Environmental Protection outlining Policy BRP 2011-1, which provides guidance to allow solar installations in Zone I recharge areas with certain provisions and finds there are typically no water quality issues associated with solar arrays. 

Will I see the solar panels from the road when I drive by?
The Project’s access driveway entrance and several public utility poles will be visible from Shutesbury Road.  No other elements of the Project will be visible from Shutesbury Road.  The Project is fully surrounded by woodland which serves as an effective visual buffer, with additional vegetative screening planned in select locations.

How will the Project affect wildlife in the area?
The solar array, equipment pad, and energy storage systems are surrounded by a 7-foot tall chain link fence, as is required per electrical code. This fence will include a 6-inch gap underneath that will permit the passage of small animals to allow their traverse of the array and pollinator meadow area.  The intent of the meadow is to provide a variety of pollinating plants to sustain marginalized animal species, such as bees and certain grassland birds. A more resilient local bee population can help increase the effectiveness of the bee’s pollinating role in the natural vegetation of the surrounding ecosystem.  There are no NHESP inventoried areas of Estimated Habitat of Rare Wildlife, Priority Habitat of Rare Species, or Area of Critical Environmental Concern on the Site.

Will there be bright lights at the project site?
There is no lighting proposed for our project. The only light will be motion-activated on the equipment pad for maintenance purposes.

Will the energy produced be going to Amherst for use?
All generated energy will go into the local regional electric grid to be used by residents and businesses in the immediate area.

Are there any economic benefits to our town?
Amherst will receive tax payments annually that will be determined by the Town’s Tax Assessor. Typically, for solar installation this can take the form of a set recurring tax payment over the lifetime of the project, all without resulting in any required services from the Town in return.

What happens when the project has reached its lifespan?
The project is expected to have a useful life and produce carbon-free electricity for 35-40 years.  A complete decommissioning plan has been submitted to Amherst to provide details on the eventual removal of the project from the land in its entirely. This plan will provide mutually agreed upon funds provided by PureSky to be held in escrow by Amherst to ensure this eventual removal occurs as planned.

Why did you choose this site for solar?
It is an unfortunate reality of the current state of the electric grid that there are few, if any, current solar energy project sites that are reasonably located close to electric substations or three phase power lines. This site was selected for the combination of available space and interconnection cost that made it feasible to interconnect to the electric grid. It is typical for solar systems of this nature to require upgrades to the local distribution system in order to accommodate the additional clean energy it will output.

Are solar panels safe?
Yes, solar panels are safe and are fully encapsulated. The panels to be used for this project are silicon-based.

Are lithium-ion batteries safe?
The technology utilized in the proposed batteries is Lithium-Iron Phosphate (LFP), which is among the safest forms of lithium-ion chemistry commercially available. Lithium-ion batteries have undergone dramatic safety improvements over the years. These systems now incorporate as standard features such as hydrogen off-gas detection and ventilation, smoke and heat detectors, fireproof insulation, and 24/7 remote monitoring.

How long will it take to complete the project?
Typically, it takes in the order of 6 months for construction to be completed from initial start, occurring in proposed phases that will be reviewed by town authorities.