by Taylor Reed
BARNET – Joe’s Brook Road in Barnet is poised to sprout a commercial solar farm.
“We are in the early stages of bringing a second community solar array to Barnet,” Emily McManamy, spokeswoman for Waterbury-based SunCommon, said this week.
The company on Nov. 16 filed with the Vermont Public Service Board for a certificate of public good to construct the array. A timeframe is unclear.
The Joe’s Brook array would occupy an acre of Bryan Adams’ property at 1770 Joe’s Brook Road. It will generate 150 kilowatts, or enough electricity to power 30 homes.
The Joe’s Brook project is the second of two SunCommon solar arrays proposed in Barnet. The first came to light this fall after the company filed with the Vermont Public Service Board for an array off Route 5 on the Tolle property south of Barnet village.
It would occupy an acre and generate 150 kilowatts of electricity. That’s enough to power 30 homes.
The Route 5 array will not be visible from Route 5. Motorists on nearby I-91 may catch a glimpse though.
Both Barnet arrays would fuel SunCommon’s community solar program. It allows Green Mountain Power customers access to solar power without actually installing solar panels.
“Last year we discovered many Vermonters are unable to go solar at their own homes for a variety of reasons,” McManamy has said. “Many Vermonters are renters, live in homes shaded by trees, have rooflines with poor solar orientation, or simply aren’t interested in hosting their own arrays. Nationally, only 15 percent of households can host rooftop solar, so our CSA program seeks to address that issue right here in Vermont.”
For related coverage by the Caledonian Record:
Community-minded, a solar option for all
Effort underway to empower town with 700 solar panels
A new farm crop: Community Solar
Barnet Vermont Solar Array Proposed
