Solar Farm Expansion Sparks Town Fight

0:00Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont toured the state's largest solar farm in East Windsor this week, the 120 megawatt gravel pit project. That's eating a farmland in open space. He made it clear he digs clean renewable energy, but slammed the imbalance, saying they've lost too much rural land without enough protection. Local folks set up the tour to show him the overload of panels blanketing farms and fields. Just last month, the Connecticut Sighting Council Greenland, a 30 megawatt expansion adding 150 more acres and the town plans to fight, that in court. These river valley towns already crank out nearly a third of the state's big solar power. Residents are fired up, talking noise pollution, buzzing sounds all day, even brush fires from nearby gear, all messing with their quiet country vibe. Lawmakers like Senator South and War call it too much of a good thing, overwhelming communities that have hosted enough projects. Lamont dodged full backing for bills letting towns block new arrays over 100 megawatts or beef up the Sighting Council's local input.

1:05He won statewide fixes to save undeveloped land, not just patch one spot, while developers tout sheep grazing in land donations as offsets. This push highlights the tightrope between climate winds and keeping towns livable, with fresh worries over another 100 megawatt plan called. Saw box that could box in neighborhoods, folks hope lawmakers tip the scale right soon. I'm Cory with the story, and you've been listening to Hartford News today, AI-powered local news.