Smart Solar Amherst DOES NOT support the proposed the industrial solar site on Shutesbury Road.
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​1. The site is filled with wetlands.

2. The site is located within areas designated as BioMap2 Core Habitat and BioMap2 Critical Natural Habitat.
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3. The site is zoned residential, not industrial.  An industrial solar facility does not belong in a residential neighborhood.

4. The site is located adjacent to the Adams Brook, runoff from the site threatens the integrity of this critical tributary.

5. Clear cutting the forest on the site will destroy over 45 acres of forest ecosystem.

6. Shutesbury road residents rely on private wells that could be affected by the project during and after construction.

7. Access to the site is a narrow strip of land sandwiched between private homes.

8. Access to the site is on a steep, dangerous blind corner.

9. There is no available parking on Shutesbury Road and nowhere to park dozens of vehicles on the site. There is no room to stage all of the construction materials on the solar site.
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10. There is no town bylaw regulating large scale industrial solar development in Amherst.

11. Large industrial solar facilities require three phase power lines.  Power lines along Shutesbury Road are single phase.

12. Energy produced by this facility will not directly reduce Amherst’s carbon footprint, construction of the power plant will add to it.