LETTERS

Solar project balances community's needs, green leadership

Posted 1/16/19

To the Editor: I am writing to thank the members of the community, administration, Cranston City Council and Planning Commission for their interest and attention to the 8.1-megawatt solar project that my company has proposed for the property off Natick

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LETTERS

Solar project balances community's needs, green leadership

Posted

To the Editor:

I am writing to thank the members of the community, administration, Cranston City Council and Planning Commission for their interest and attention to the 8.1-megawatt solar project that my company has proposed for the property off Natick Avenue owned by Ronald Rossi.

As climate change accelerates and the danger to the planet increases, Cranston should be proud of its role as a state leader in the support of green power and renewable energy. Southern Sky Renewable Energy RI LLC prides itself on being Rhode Island’s leading developer of solar energy systems that produce safe, environmentally friendly developments. Cranston leaders should be commended for their vision and support of these projects. They have developed a regulatory structure that strikes just the right balance between community needs and Cranston’s leadership in green development.

The Natick Avenue solar farm is allowed as a “matter of right” under Cranston’s zoning code. Reflecting our commitment to being a good neighbor, Southern Sky has shared more detailed information at this conceptual “master plan” stage of approval than normally required. Through two nights of public information sessions and an extensive site visit, our consultants have outlined our plans to site the solar farm with enhanced buffering and screening for our neighbors. We will continue to have our landscape architect work with neighbors to provide an effective level of screening.

As we proceed to the next level of engineering detail, I am confident that our state-of-the-art drainage and sedimentation control plans will protect and preserve nearby wetlands area. Our next level of plans will also show how we will respect existing contours of the property to minimize grade changes. In the uncertain event that minimal blasting is required our experts have detailed how best it can be done with proper licensed procedures and paramount safety near the Tennessee Gas Pipeline.

We are at only the beginning of the community dialogue about how best to bring this solar project to reality. Following a master plan approval, we look forward to further public comment and review of this solar development that will provide clean energy and reduce our fossil fuel dependency.

Ralph A. Palumbo, president

Southern Sky Renewable Energy RI LLC

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