EAST WINDSOR — A large group of residents, along with local and state lawmakers, are urging the Connecticut Siting Council to reject a proposal to expand an existing solar array, arguing the council ignores public input and the impact to the community.
The Siting Council voted on Thursday to reopen the docket for the expansion of the Gravel Pit Solar array, but residents and lawmakers may be encouraged by some of the comments from council members.
Led by the grassroots East Windsor Citizens for Responsible Solar, more than 1,100 residents have signed a petition in objection to an expansion that would use 151 acres of land, including 46 acres of trees, to generate an additional 30 megawatts of power.
The group objects to the expansion due to adverse impacts to the environment, the loss of farmland and threats to the town's rural character.
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"We support renewable energy, but not at the cost of our wetlands, forests and farmland," organizer Nicole Paradise said. "This project would permanently alter the landscape and identity of East Windsor."
The number of solar facilities in East Windsor has been a hot topic for the past few years, with currently four built or under construction, with another slated to be built, East Windsor First Selectman Jason Bowsza said Thursday.
Neighbors have been vocal about their opposition to such facilities, with some expressing concern about noise generating from another facility on East Road owned by NextEra Energy. Earlier this year, a fire broke out at that facility, leading to questions of safety by state and local lawmakers. That facility remains offline.
"We feel that our town has done its part contributing to Connecticut's clean energy goals with the current developments we will have," Chris Dahl, co-founder of the opposition group, said.
Attorney and Selectman Keith Yagaloff has filed a formal legal objection to reopening the Gravel Pit Solar docket, arguing the large expansion is an "overreach," according to the petitioning group.
East Windsor First Selectman Jason Bowsza, who was among those who signed the petition, said the Siting Council approves projects without taking into account the accumulative impact to municipalities, a required responsibility of the council.
"They really just approve them and forget them," Bowsza said. "In my experience, they don't give consideration to municipalities."
He and his constituents have been outspoken in their opposition to the Gravel Pit Solar expansion project, but feel as though they are not being heard, Bowsza said.
"We're David throwing a stone at Goliath here and hoping to shatter a couple of panels along the way," he said.
"There's nobody that I have met in the town of East Windsor who has any interest in expansion of the Gravel Pit Solar project," Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, said.
The Siting Council lacks transparency, has little consideration for the short-term and long-term impacts to the community, and "safety is an afterthought," he said.
Anwar, whose district includes East Windsor, wrote to the council arguing the level of civic engagement shown by the petition reflects "deep and widespread concerns about the environmental, safety, and quality-of-life impacts of the project — concerns I share."
One of the "most troubling" aspect of the process is the lack of public engagement, he wrote. "For a project of this scale, the absence of transparency and local input is unacceptable."
Rep. Carol Hall, R-Enfield, whose district includes part of East Windsor, said the two communities she represents are doing more than their part to support solar arrays in the state.
Hall is calling for the elimination of the Siting Council and giving authority back to local planning and zoning officials.
"We really do need to revamp the entire way we do these solar projects," she said. "They're dumping all of these solar projects into one area of the state, which is totally unfair."
The council, Hall said, routinely approves projects without taking into consideration the opinions of residents or their elected representatives.
"To me, it's a broken system," she said. "We need to put it back in local control where it belongs."
Siting Council
While the council voted on Thursday to reopen the application to expand the Gravel Pit Solar facility, some members were vocal about thoroughly vetting the accumulative impact to East Windsor and ensuring that there will be sufficient public input.
Council Vice Chairman John Morissette questioned whether reopening the docket would remove any authority from the council during the review process.
If the application were not reopened, he opined that the applicant would file a petition for the same project.
"I think we're going to end up in the same spot anyway — a hearing," he said.
Council attorney Melanie Bachman said the benefit of reopening the application is that the council would have an opportunity to consider the accumulative effect of expansion, rather than ruling on the expansion alone.
Many comments from the public were "how much solar is too much solar," she said.
Several members of the council ultimately voted to reopen the application based on their ability to further vet the specifics.
"With the explanation that accumulative effects will be allowed to be considered ... I am prepared to go along with this," Councilwoman Kristine Hall said. "It has to be a very close examination."
Councilman Bill Syme, the lone council member to vote against reopening the application, said that he did so because he doesn't believe the solar farm should be expanded.
"This is a rather large project as it sits today, and the addition would make it probably one of the largest ones in the United States," he said. "I don't see the need for moving this project forward."
In the end the council voted 5-1 with one abstention to reopen the application, with Chairwoman Elin Katz assuring that the voices of residents will be considered.
"There will be a robust public process," she said.
May 15, 2025
Staff Writer
Eric Bedner is a reporter with the Journal Inquirer. He has been with Hearst Connecticut Media Group since 2023. When not working, he enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and rooting for the New York Giants.