Petition Circulating Against Manchester Solar Farm Project

MANCHESTER, CT — A petition is being circulated by a citizens who are against a sizable solar project in an area of Manchester.

Greenskies Clean Energy is proposing a 2,400-panel solar farm at 81 and 93 Lake St., according to Ct.gov. Plans were submitted in June.

The petition is being staged via Change.org.

There is also a corresponding Facebook page protesting the project.

The following argument is being presented:

"Petition 1688 proposes an industrial scale solar operation to be developed on two parcels of farmland at 81 and 93 Lake St. in Manchester, Connecticut. Lake Street is NOT the right site. Lake Street is a winding country road classified as a rural residential zone. The parcels in question are steep sloping hills with our well water and town’s reservoirs located down gradient from them. The industrial scale solar operation will only exacerbate existing stormwater runoff and erosion issues that already exist. The construction will compact the beautiful, healthy prime farmland soil and potentially introduce harmful pollutants to it. Stormwater runoff will transport contaminates to the Lydall Reservoir via the wetlands which are within 100 feet and via the Wilson and Lydall Brooks that lead directly to our town’s public drinking water supply."

See the protest arguments in full here.

See the full project outline here.

Here is a look at the project from CT.gov: