In the May 15 Waterbury Record, Jason Gibbs brought up the seemingly inevitable Sweet Farm Road solar array when he asked for input as to whether the Waterbury-Duxbury School Board should agree to buy power generated from it. Clean energy is critically necessary; however, I feel this specific project is a mistake due to its impact on the landscape and the precedent it sets toward additional industrial sprawl.
Because solar energy is currently so in vogue, I fear the Sweet Farm Road project was rushed and its potentially negative effects were not fully vetted. Regretfully, I was complacent when the village discussed the project and wonder if many other community members also were; after all, what could possibly be wrong with a solar project?
I understand there is a financial benefit for the solar project. That benefit, however, seems trivial relative to the long-term aesthetic cost and the now seemingly greater potential for additional industrial projects (albeit green) to further dot the landscape and negatively impact the environment that we in Waterbury are so lucky to enjoy.
The bucolic views from Sweet Farm Road are very special, as evidenced by the many people who visit that area to walk, run, bike and hike Hunger Mountain. The views and peacefulness are also the very reason why many people have chosen to live in this area. To take that away from our friends and neighbors without an undeniable justification just seems wrong.
The Sweet Farm Road site is not a necessity. Certainly, many other options exist in and around Waterbury that would provide the same power and preserve our landscape. If and when it is a necessity and all options are exhausted, we should then consider impacting our treasured landscape, but until that time we should preserve the current Sweet Farm Road and all the other “Sweet Roads,” which many of us live on and all of us are lucky enough to enjoy.
Please join me in asking the village trustees and Green Lantern Capital to reconsider this valuable site.
Pete Kulis
Waterbury
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexual language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be proactive. Use the "Report" link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.