To the editor:

Solar Power Plants: the solution to our fossil fuel dependency. Sounds good doesn’t it? It sure did to our town fathers in some of our rural communities, giving large commercial solar companies close to free rein over existing by-laws, or writing new by-laws that have made it easy for these companies to establish power plants in their communities.

These companies then went to work leasing acre after acre of valuable farm and forested land …land that is zoned residential/agricultural. Then they clear cut this woodland, even though the companies claim to prefer using brown land, capped landfills and other so-called waste land. So, I guess the bottom line is that if you live in a rural area beware! Institute by-laws that will protect your town and its rural nature from the great land grab.

Solar is our best alternative to fossil fuel, but there must be enforceable by-laws and regulations, and they need to be strictly enforced!

One last little point —— let’s stop calling these things “solar farms” they are far from being a farm, call them what they are, a “commercial solar power plant”. We can’t blame the towns —they are making a lot of money from these installations. It’s hard to blame the land owners —they are also! The losers are the neighbor — the beauty and peace of their residential neighborhoods is being destroyed! Their property values are crashing as well. We need to be vigilant, all of us, before our fields and woodlands are destroyed. It is happening in every town!

Al Hadfield

Westport