The future is now: Solar ‘farm' proposed

Vernon hears from developer about a plan to generate power with solar panels, By Jennifer Knocha Vernon — The future of energy could be coming to Vernon Township, courtesy of the Mulvihill family. Andrew Mulvihill appeared before the town council recently to introduce a new solar farm proposal, the Starhill Conservation Project. The plan involves putting solar panels on an 8-acre parcel of land that Crystal Springs Builders owns behind the Vernon PAL Center. These rows of panels would generate one megawatt of energy, according to Mulvihill — enough energy to power 100 very large homes or 200 medium-sized homes. Other possible energy buyers include Mountain Creek, although the field couldn’t make enough power to meet the full demand of the resort. The potential to sell the power also helped choose the site of the solar field. The land is near an existing electrical transmission station, allowing the company to attach to the grid and sell power back to a utility company if it became practical. Another benefit of that site is the land itself, which is fairly flat and smooth, allowing for easier setup of the panels, which can vary from four to eight feet high. The site is also fairly remote, “You might see it from across the valley, but there are really no neighbors there,” said Mulvihill. John Dejulia, architect for Crystal Springs Builders, said that since the property is zoned residential, the firm will need a variance to proceed with the project. In addition, they would need a 150-foot wetlands buffer. But they also have a bigger plan in sight. The town owns land adjacent to the proposed site, and Starhill would like to buy — or even lease on a long-term basis of 15 or up to 25 years — the additional eight acres. This would bring the possible production up to two megawatts, which is the maximum energy production allowed by the state. More projects Land isn’t the only thing that they’d like the town to help out with. While the project would bring in extra property taxes, if the $10 million development was taxed as an improvement, it might derail the project altogether, according to Mulvihill. So any assistance would be welcome. “Solar is a long-term bet. It’s not an immediate bang-for-your-buck project. This type of project needs subsidies to survive,” said Mulvihill. The council questioned whether the panels would ruin the views in any direction, especially of the Appalachian Trail, which runs not far from the site. According to Dejulia, the panels would be visible from Sandhill Road or Edison Road, the higher areas of the township, but for the most part, the trees and the slope of the land would block the panels from view. The council was receptive to the idea. “It could be an example for us of doing the right thing,” said Mayor Austin Carew. Council asked Starhill that when its plans are more solid, they return to the council for a more detailed discussion, including a conversation about how Vernon can get more involved.