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Planning agency finds Fort Edward 5 MW solar project a matter of local concern, asks for fire-department review
Summary
At its March meeting, the Washington County Planning Agency referred a 5-megawatt solar site-plan from the Town of Fort Edward back to the local planning board with a request that the applicant and local planners review site access and shutoff procedures with the local fire department.
At its March meeting, the Washington County Planning Agency referred a 5-megawatt solar facility proposed in the Town of Fort Edward back to the local planning board as a matter of local concern, and asked that the applicant and town include the local fire department in plan review and emergency familiarization.
The proposal, submitted by Community Power Group and first brought to the county planning agency on Nov. 26, 2024 for area-variance review, is before the agency now for site-plan review. Agency staff said the application packet now includes a full environmental assessment form and a stormwater pollution prevention plan; staff noted the stormwater plan spans roughly 480 pages and construction documents are included in the submittal. The project footprint sits approximately 500 feet from municipal boundaries of the Village of Fort Edward and abuts Saratoga County and an agricultural district, the staff summary said.
Pamela, the agency staff member who presented the project, told the planning agency that the application’s materials have not changed substantially since November but now include the full EAF and a full stormwater management plan. Pamela read a recommended board finding: "to find the project to be a matter of essentially local concern, with the comment that the board, discussed the local planning board discussed review with the fire department that would include fire should include the fire department to discuss local conditions and procedure in today's catch." The motion carried after an aye vote by members present.
Agency members and staff discussed technical and emergency-response details. The agency confirmed the submittal shows no on-site battery storage. A member said the 5-megawatt rating is the AC figure typically reported for these facilities and noted that DC nameplate ratings are commonly higher (the member said this would correspond to about 7 megawatts DC). The member and staff emphasized that on-site shutoffs and the location and labeling of a master shutoff are important for first responders, who are likely to arrive on scene faster than remote operations staff. One member said, "We need to make sure that the first people are showing up and what to do when they get there," and recommended the applicant and town coordinate a walk-through or operational briefing with the local fire department.
The referral record and staff packet list the applicant as Community Power Group and identify the project as a 5 MW solar facility; the full environmental assessment form (EAF) and stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) are in the county files. The planning agency’s motion did not add conditions to approval; it returned the referral with the notation that the local planning board and applicant should consult the local fire department about site-specific emergency operations and shutoff access.
Minor items noted during the discussion included the applicant-provided construction documents and a staff-created buffer map from the earlier submission. No battery-storage equipment was shown in the plans submitted to the agency.
The agency’s referral will be transmitted to the Town of Fort Edward planning board and the applicant; any subsequent changes or local actions were not specified at the county meeting.
