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Developers hold open house for proposed solar farm; council to discuss sale of industrial park land for substation
Summary
An open house was held June 16 for a proposed solar farm north of New London. Developers indicated interest in buying property in the city’s Northeast Industrial Park for a substation and maintenance facility; the economic development committee will consider the potential land sale at its next meeting.
Developers for a proposed solar farm held a public open house June 16 to present plans for a large solar array north of New London and answered questions from residents. City staff told the Common Council on June 17 that the developers are also interested in purchasing property in the city’s Northeast Industrial Park for a substation and a maintenance facility to support the project.
City Administrator Mr. Hirsch said the open house provided information and an opportunity for questions, and he offered to connect residents who could not attend with the developers. The Economic Development Committee will consider topics related to selling city-owned land for a substation and maintenance facility at its next meeting; the city clarified it will not be discussing the solar park siting outside the city limits at that hearing, only the potential sale of industrial-park parcels.
Why it matters: A substation on city-owned land would locate operations and infrastructure inside city limits and could carry long-term maintenance and land-use implications. No land sale or final agreements were authorized at the meeting; staff said further committee discussion and public input will follow.
The developers indicated they are planning a substation to connect with an ATC transmission node in the industrial park and that the maintenance facility would serve as a base of operations. The open house was framed as informational; council members and staff reiterated that future committee meetings would include opportunities for public comment and more detailed analysis of any proposed land sale.
