by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A conditional-use permit for a “solar garden” was approved unanimously by the Sartell City Council at its Nov. 9 meeting.
The proposal was submitted to the council many months ago, but the permitting process is the first green-light go ahead for the project. There still needs to be reviews by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other oversight agencies.
The applicant for the conditional-use permit is the Minnesota-based SolarStone Development Co., which creates solar-energy projects throughout the state and elsewhere. A similar solar-garden project by another company is being planned in an area near St. Joseph and Cold Spring.
The solar panels in Sartell will collectively generate five megawatts of energy, which will be sold by subscription to Xcel Energy Co., which will buy and distribute the electricity.
The City of Sartell previously signed a lease agreement with SolarStone to use decommissioned wastewater lagoons for the solar panels. The 50-acre site also contains a parcel owned by SPX Valves of Sartell, City Planner and Developer Anita Rasmussen pointed out. The actual area for the solar panels within the 50-acre area will comprise about 30 acres.
At the Nov. 9 public hearing, seven men – all residents near the proposed project – shared their concerns with the council. Most of the residents who spoke live on 7th Street S. just north of the area, which is bordered by Heritage Drive to the South, 7th Street S. to the north. It is east of the Meadow Lawn neighborhood and south of Sartell Heights and its park. The solar garden will be accessed via 4th Avenue S.
Gordy Simonson, an official from SolarStone, attended the meeting to answer questions.
The neighbors who spoke expressed concerns about the following issues: Will the project be unsightly with a fence that resembles some kind of prison? Will there be light pollution, with lights glaring into neighborhood homes? Do panels produce pollution? Will the rows of panels be visible from neighbors’ homes? Will the project depress home values in the area? What about glare from solar panels? Will they be dangerous or pose security threats?
Simonson and Rasumussen answered those questions. The solar panels, encased by silicon, are totally non-polluting. Glare is not a problem with panels, partly because they are made to absorb, not reflect, sunlight. A berm will surround the facility, and a fence will not be needed or requested by the city or the project developers as it’s preferred to have wildlife roam free in the area. If neighbors decide the project is unsightly, there can be landscaping devised to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Although no studies have been done on home values in relation to solar projects, a study of homes near wind turbines in Maryland showed a minimal effect, Simonson noted. Solar panels would pose no dangers; in fact, Simsonson said someone could walk up and “hug” one of the panels without any effect.
There will be 30 feet between each row of solar panels, with the panels being a maximum of 15 feet high, built at a 30-degree angle to best capture the sun’s rays.
Construction of the panels will begin sometime between mid-March and mid-April of 2016, Rasmussen noted.
This graphic shows how solar energy is collected by solar panels and delivered to a public utility, which then distributes the electricity to customers under a subscription agreement.
