Pomfret 

readies huge

solar array

project

POMFRET — The Town of Pomfret is taking the next step in a first of its kind large solar array project, looking for proposals. The letter of intent is due  by Nov. 18 and the Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting solar companies to submit land lease price proposals to engineer, design, construct, finance, and own a large grid-connected solar array on town-owned land for submission into Connecticut’s upcoming State renewable procurement is due by the end of November.

The Town-owned property consists of an approximately 178 acre tract of land (known as the Murdock property) at 434 Killingly Road/Route 101 and an additional town-owned 10 acres at 89 Searles Road for a total of 188 acres.  The Town of Pomfret’s current zoning map designates the entire site as Commercial/Business (CB) District.  The anticipated State renewable procurement, which will be administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), is intended to procure large scale (2 MW to 20 MW) renewable energy systems with possible energy storage for long-term contracts with Eversource Energy, the state’s largest electric distribution utility. 

This project was initiated by Pomfret’s outgoing First Selectman Maureen Nicholson after exploring solar options for over a year.  Pomfret would benefit by an annual income stream in the form of land lease payments and tax revenue on the solar panels. The land to be used would be cleared (with the proceeds going to the town) and the panels installed. The Murdock property has been the subject of discussion and study for several decades by Pomfret’s Economic Planning and Development Commission but no viable uses have ever been proposed.  Pomfret would be the first municipality to take advantage of this new program.  By releasing the RFP at this time the town is in a very advantageous position.

 The 188-acre Murdock property has two easements and wetlands that cannot be used, but the ultimate configuration would be determined by the successful bidder. The site is in a good location to tie into the 3 phase power line on Route 101 as well as a substation in Brooklyn.  The project would not be visible from the road and does not encumber extensive areas of prime agricultural soils. The successful bidder would design, install, and maintain a solar array and sell the power back to Eversource. A 30-year lease would be negotiated and signed with the town. After the term of the lease the panels could be removed and the land returned to the town, unless an additional contract is negotiated.

First Selectman Nicholson worked with attorney Paul Michaud of Murtha Cullina LLP, a Hartford / Boston based law firm. Michaud has a comprehensive and integrated Renewable Energy and Microgrid Practice offering significant expertise with the transactional, energy and environmental regulatory, real estate corporate, finance, and legislative policy aspects of renewable energy, community solar and microgrid power generation.  Murtha Cullina and Michaud have worked with the Towns of Stafford, Woodstock, Putnam, Avon, Woodbridge to name a few as well as numerous out-of-state projects in New England and the U.S.  The projects range from combined wind and solar PV developments, to biomass, water treatment, geothermal wells and wind farms. Interested contractors are asked to submit a letter of intent to Michaud by Nov. 18 and a proposal by the end of November.