Letter: Conservation Commission Will Discuss Forty-Four Acre Solar Installation That Would Replace Forested Land In Amherst
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Readers of the Amherst Indy may want to know that detailed plans for a forty-four acre, ground-mounted solar installation on forested land off Shutesbury Road have been submitted to the Amherst Town Government. The site is located in the outlying residence zone (RO) and is owned by W.D. Cowls.
The Conservation Commission will begin discussion of this proposal on Wednesday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. You can attend this important meeting over Zoom:
Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: click this URL to join: https://amherstma.zoom.us/j/96982361133
The proposal can be read here.
For the Conservation Commission agenda, look here.
Robert Bezucha
Robert Bezucha is a resident of Amherst and a member of smartsolaramherst.org
Smart Solar Amherst DOES NOT support the proposed industrial solar site on Shutesbury Road. I, and many, are in total agreement with this decision. Why? Check below fact-checked info from SSA:
1. The site is filled with wetlands.
2. The site is located within areas designated as BioMap2 Core Habitat and BioMap2 Critical Natural Habitat.This shows aquatic, wetland, forest components, vernal pool care and species of conservation concern.
3. The site is zoned residential, not industrial. An industrial solar facility does not belong in a residential neighborhood.
4. The site is located adjacent to the Adams Brook, runoff from the site threatens the integrity of this critical tributary.
5. Clear cutting the forest on the site will destroy over 45 acres of forest ecosystem.
6. Shutesbury road residents rely on private wells that could be affected by the project during and after construction.
7. Access to the site is a narrow strip of land sandwiched between private homes.
8. Access to the site is on a steep, dangerous blind corner.
9. There is no room for parking on Shutesbury Road during construction.
10. There is no town bylaw regulating large scale industrial solar development in Amherst.
It is high time to stop destruction at all levels and all ways. As I said and wrote many times, in my 40 years working for the environment, we are in the final countdown to save ourselves, the human race, by saving Earth. The COP26 now in session in Scotland is the last chance for the planet to be saved from total destruction. Every small act helps to avoid it so wake up and say NO! To forest destruction and any other man-made destruction for the profit of a few. Here I include my vote to stop the destruction of our Jones library as well.
Save the library! This unnecessary destruction has better and doable counter proposals. We already have to live with tall eyesore buildings you can’t even walk well around and now developers and friends – who instead, should focus on priorities for the town-, want unnecessary cement stages in our green historical common, parking lots and more huge apartment constructions that belong in the university campus not in our small town. Say NO to more destruction!
Please be a concerned active citizen of the world, think globally and act locally, about the huge cons of innovation and industrial progress without measure,without care for your only home. Amherst, our local home, should be at the forefront on environmental actions already proposed in the Climate Action And Resilience Plan (CAARP,which I translated) which deals systemically, like Nature, with our zero waste and climate issues, including enhanced composting, plastics ban, solarize buildings, forest protection, bike paths,etc.while advocating, for urgent and stronger community participation in decision making. It is us who tells the developers and agencies what,when,why,where we want this or that project.
Most importantly, it’s high time to reverse the destruction of our moral reserves and values as a community, of our humane call for what joins us together. Progress without destruction!
Amen
On the facts that Smart Solar Amherst presents above, the hubris of this proposal shocks the conscience.
Thoughtfully and passionately articulated, Laura – amen y gracias!