CLAY — Residents of the town of Clay aired their concerns about a second solar panel farm at the June 21 town board meeting.

VP Road Solar LLC’s proposed solar panel installation, presented by Caryn Mlodzianowski of Bohler Engineering, Kevin O’Neill and Pedro Rodriguez of Seaboard Solar, would accompany another built along Verplank Road.

“We think that this project is sited in a great spot for solar, for renewable energy,” Mlodzianowski said. “There are a couple of residences on Verplank Road that we’re proposing to maintain a buffer to and plant any extra vegetation that is necessary, and we’re willing to work with those property owners on that as well.”

At the June 21 meeting, Supervisor Damian Ulatowski explained why solar panel farms are being proposed across Clay and the greater area.

“We’re behind the governor’s green initiative. He wants to turn to 50% alternative power by 2035. That’s an ambitious goal. It’s not just the town of Clay, it’s other towns throughout Onondaga County and throughout most of western New York,” Ulatowski said.

In an effort to combat climate change, New York State passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) in 2019. The ambitious effort aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85% by 2050 and transform the way electricity is generated and used, relying on renewable energy to do so. By 2025, the state plans to bring on 6,000 megawatts of solar energy.

Several residents spoke out against the proposal, expressing concerns over how the farm will affect the town and neighboring residential areas. The project would require over 100 acres of land and calls for two solar arrays along Verplank Road.

Christine Dallman, who lives on the south end of Verplank Road, raised concern over the proximity of the solar panel farms to neighboring homes and the effect the solar farm could have on home values.

“I’m concerned where we are on [the south] end, where the other solar panels are. They’re right in our view, right in our back windows. We didn’t know about it. I know there are some residents here that are right along that border, and it’s concerning. I’m sure you don’t live 130 feet from solar panels yourself. Nobody wants to live that close to a solar panel farm,” she said.

Dallmann, and others, also questioned what will happen to the panels when they need to be replaced in about 25 years. According to O’Neill, the panels are intended to be recycled, but because the technology is still being researched, there is not yet a clear answer.

Other residents spoke in favor of the farm. Tim Rowan, a resident of Verplank Road, would live closest to the south array.

“I’m delighted. I’ve talked to Mr. O’Neill … they’re coming right up to my land, and I couldn’t be happier with the plan. The vegetation that’s proposed, the trees, the height, the spacings and things like that. It isn’t going to disrupt anything, and I’m in full support of the project,” Rowan said.

The solar project was not the only proposal ruffling feathers in Clay. Residents also expressed concern over a proposed zone change for Hinerwadel’s Grove on Taft Road. The zone change would switch the site, about 30 acres, from limited use/restaurants to regional/commercial and would accommodate residential apartments.

Members of the Clay community were not convinced the zone change would benefit the area but instead add more traffic. If the zone change is approved, two national retailers and 23 residential buildings would be added. An O’Reilly Auto Parts store will be the smaller of the two retailers. To mitigate the traffic, a traffic light was proposed on Taft Road.

“Adding another light is just going to add more road rage, more frustration, more people. This whole project, to me, is nuts,” resident Jim Warren said. “We don’t need more dead spaces around here. This is just craziness that people think traffic won’t be an issue. It’s unbelievable.”

The public hearing on the Hinerwadel’s site zone change will continue July 19.