The proposed solar project in Oakland would be 35 acres on Kornstedt Farms west of Hope Lake Road.
The proposed solar project in Oakland would be 35 acres on Kornstedt Farms west of Hope Lake Road.
OAKLAND — Following a recommendation from the plan commission, the Oakland town board approved a conditional use for a small solar farm off Hope Lake Road that will likely be constructed next year.
Kornstedt Farms LLC agreed to lease 35 acres of its 350 acre farm to OneEnergy Renewables to operate a six megawatt solar farm in the Town of Oakland.
In May, the Oakland planning committee approved the conditional use for the solar farm, with some conditions.
The conditions included hours of operation, a deadline for construction completion, training for the fire department for potential emergencies and adding vegetation to improve visibility from the road.
At its July 21 meeting the town board heard from One Energy Renewables, the company that will build and operate the solar farm.
Peter Murphy from OneEnergy Renewables said the project will power 1,600 homes and generate $30,000 annually in local revenue: $17,000 to Jefferson County and $13,000 to the Town of Oakland.
The project will likely start next spring, and construction would take about four to six months.
Murphy shared that native prairie and vegetation will be added after construction to benefit conservation and improve the project’s appearance. He noted that the vegetation takes time to grow and likely wouldn’t be fully established until a few months after construction was completed.
Murphy also said solar projects benefit a community by conserving farmland, and small-scale projects in rural areas tend to have a minimal impact on property values.
Town Board Member Joy Graffin said she was concerned the project wouldn’t benefit any Oakland homes because the power goes only to WeEnergies customers, which is not where Oakland residents get energy.
Murphy responded that the project conditions did not require it to benefit any particular number of residents in a specific location, but he shared the number of homes powered to provide perspective on the solar farm’s output.
The board also discussed construction hours within the set conditions. Town Board Chair Laura Payne said the planning committee decided on 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and no work on Sundays.
Town Board member Jimmy DeGidio noted Saturdays might be an issue if the construction is loud.
Murphy said some of the construction equipment is louder than others, and some might be quiet.
Graffin also asked if OneEnergy Renewables would have staff on call for emergencies, such as wildlife getting past the fences or near the solar panels.
Murphy said there will be people on call for any incident during construction and after the solar farm is built.
The board approved the construction with the set conditions, and the stormwater agreement at its July meeting. Payne said next the board will review the road agreement.
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