Council here has declined a request to provide municipal support for a proposal to install several ground-mounted solar arrays on abandoned rail line property in the township.
Dennis German of German Solar Corporation told council on Oct. 11 his London-based company is planning to submit FIT (Feed In Tariffs) 5.0 applications to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator for four small scale ground-mounted solar projects: one near Moorefield and three others off Sideroad 12, Sideroad 6 and Wellington Road 9.
As part of the application process, priority points are awarded to applications with municipal support and German asked Mapleton council to provide documents indicating the township’s support.
German notes the projects would be located on abandoned CN rail corridors and occupy less than three acres. They would involve one or two rows of panels, 12 feet above the ground and either 300 (one row) or 700 (two rows) metres in length.
He noted weed control and access for farm operations is maintained in all cases and pointed out land targeted for the projects is not Class 1, 2 or 3 farmland.
Council directed staff to provide a report outlining the details of the request and draft an associated support resolution.
When the resolution was presented at the Oct. 25 meeting, councillor Michael Martin questioned the need for the project.
“So council is fine supporting a project for which there’s no documented need, that’s probably going to affect your hydro rates?” Martin asked
“That’s the way I read the proposal yes,” said Mayor Neil Driscoll.
Councillor Marlene Ottens noted, “the resolution is just so he can go ahead and apply … they’re not approving anything.”
Councillor Lori Woodham asked, “If council supported this, and they are awarded a contract – then will it come back to us?”
“That would depend if they require any permits from the municipality,” said CAO Brad McRoberts.
Conceding he wasn’t sure, McRoberts said, “My guess is they don’t need a building permit.”
Driscoll added, “And, it is a Green Energy Act project, so once our municipality makes our comments, you might never see it again.”
