Plainfield Planning Board Continues Solar Hearing to September 25

PLAINFIELD — September 12, 2025 — Plainfield Planning Board continues large-scale solar hearing after two hours of debate over tree clearing, battery fire risk, and town benefit. The board, chaired by Peter LaPointe, heard a presentation from New Leaf Energy developer Eric Weinstein and civil engineer Brandon Smith on a proposed 23-acre solar array with battery storage at 66 North Union Street, filed on behalf of property owner Robert Pitco. The project would require clearing roughly 30 acres of trees adjacent to the Plainfield substation, drawing sharp questions from board members and neighbors about wetland protection, noise from battery cooling fans, the risk of thermal runaway near the headwaters of the West Branch watershed, and road damage bonds for logging and construction traffic. Board member Kathy Bilkins pressed the applicant on what financial benefit the town receives beyond a future payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement; resident and former engineering consultant Ed Spalkman called the submitted plans "pretty sketchy" and demanded construction-level erosion control and emergency spillway details. Select Board member Karen Marshall submitted written comments citing a $1 million state settlement over wetland damage at a Williamsburg solar farm. The hearing was continued to September 25, with a 6 p.m. board site walk scheduled before the 7 p.m. public session.