Conservation Commission Postpones Solar Farm Vote, Orders Independent Soil Review

PLAINFIELD — October 31, 2025 — Plainfield Conservation Commission postpones ruling on a 24-acre solar farm proposal near protected wetlands. The commission voted at its October 31 meeting to delay a decision on New Leaf Energy's proposed solar photovoltaic and battery storage facility at 66 North View Street, which would clear roughly 24 acres of forest and install more than 1,600 panels adjacent to wetland resource areas. Commissioners, citing the scale of the project and the limits of their own technical expertise, said they want an independent soil scientist to physically sample soils on the site and a separate engineering firm to verify the applicant's stormwater modeling, which is based on a 100-year storm event of roughly 7 inches in 24 hours. Commission member Ed, a former conservation administrator for the city of Pittsfield, argued against approving the project with conditions attached after the fact, saying "you cannot condition it afterwards and be successful." The hearing is tentatively continued to November 24, 2025.