Developer outlines 4.65 MW solar plan for former golf course; commission presses on buffers, wildlife protections and seed mixes

Loadar Energy representatives presented their proposal for a 4.65 megawatt AC fixed‑tilt solar facility at the site of the former Tower Ridge (Tower Rich) golf course during the Conservation Commission meeting on April 7.

"My name is Jeff Nasel. I am a resident of Simsbury here. I'm also a co‑founder of Loadar Energy," the presenter said, introducing the team and the project. Project developer Sam told commissioners the installation would occupy roughly 18 leased acres of a 119‑acre parcel, and that the system was awarded a 20‑year contract under the state's Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) program.

The developer said the project will: interconnect to the local grid at the Farmington substation, provide discounted electricity credits for low‑ and moderate‑income Connecticut subscribers (the SCEF program can yield discounts up to about 15%), and is expected to bring in more than $40,000 in town tax revenue (company estimate). Sam said the team has a signed interconnection agreement with Eversource and that the project is undergoing statewide permitting with the Connecticut Siting Council. The team listed an April 23 public hearing before the Siting Council and said they expect a council decision this summer; if approved, they estimated construction in 2027 with operation by the end of 2027.

On site specifics, Sam said the array is a fixed‑tilt design with rows running east‑west facing south. Module rows start about 3 feet above the ground at the leading edge and climb on a roughly 20° tilt to about 8 feet at the high edge; row spacing provides roughly 15 feet for access and mowing. The developer estimated a ground coverage ratio under 50% (low‑to‑mid 40%).

Environmental protections and permitting: VHB engineer Steve Coaches said the team had completed cultural‑resource reviews (the State Historic Preservation Office issued a concurrence letter) and a wetlands verification. The presenters reported they would meet a conservative 100‑foot no‑disturb buffer from wetlands, and that they incorporated conservation division recommendations addressing species in the Farmington River corridor (salamanders, turtles, bats and mussels) into the plans. Wetland buffers, a CT DEEP stormwater permit and the Siting Council review are all part of the permit pathway the team described.

Agriculture and seed mixes: Sam said the applicant submitted an agricultural plan to the Department of Agriculture and that the Department issued a letter of no impact for about 3.5 acres of prime farmland soils in the project’s northern portion. The team described a pollinator‑friendly seed mix, a delayed mowing strategy to permit blooms, and non‑commercial apiary plans that they said could be removed if the town or Department of Agriculture prefer native‑only plantings.

Noise, lighting and neighbors: The team said the inverters and transformers are sited roughly 200–240 feet from the site perimeter and that the nearest off‑site residence is over 1,000 feet away; they cited inverter source levels in the 60s dB and said an acoustic analysis had been performed to meet CT DEEP guidance at property lines. No nighttime lighting is proposed for the solar arrays.

Wildlife protections and construction sequencing: Presenters described on‑site measures including silt/exclusion fencing, daily fence inspections, 'turtle sweeps' during the construction window, and staged inspections from CT DEEP and the regional conservation district tied to the stormwater permit. They noted constraints on tree clearing timing to avoid bat and other species' sensitive windows (clearing over one acre generally must be done before April 15 or after November 1 depending on species protections). The team said pile driving and civil work can be rapid on sandy soils and estimated a typical build from clearing to power‑on of six to eight months, with some sites completing electrical installation in under 90 days.

Points of town interest and next steps: Commissioners pressed the team on pollinator species selection, the proposed small apiary and plant species choices (one resident urged native pollinators rather than domesticated honeybees). The developer invited written comments and asked the commission to submit a letter with recommendations on seed mixes and plant selections for the Siting Council and Department of Agriculture to consider during permitting.

What the commission will watch: commissioners asked for clarity on final seed mixes, the Department of Agriculture’s expectations for dual‑use agricultural practices, wetlands buffer enforcement, noise study results at property lines, and the decommissioning bond and plan required at end of life.

Authorities and permits referenced in the presentation included the Connecticut Siting Council (statewide siting process for facilities above 1 MW), the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) stormwater permitting, and the Department of Agriculture certificate/process for prime farmland considerations.

Ending: The developer requested written suggestions and the commission agreed to prepare comments to be forwarded to the Siting Council and state review agencies as the application proceeds through statewide permitting and the town’s comment‑period process.