Solar array plans withdrawn after abutters speak out about project

Jul 6, 2021

MARION — Plans for a private solar array at 8 Quails Crossing were withdrawn, after abutters spoke out against the array at a June 21 Planning Board Meeting.

The board accepted the withdrawal of plans at a July 6 meeting.

The planned array was to be 33 panels, 610 square feet and ground-mounted. When the array was first proposed, several community members spoke out against the plan.

Neighbor Dena Quinlan expressed concern about the effect of cutting down trees for the project, which has already been done, on Route 105, and abutter Eileen McCarthy expressed health concerns about the additional electromagnetic field the array would create in her neighborhood.

According to the World Health Organization, there is no evidence to conclude that low-level electromagnetic field exposure is harmful to human health.

Other neighbors expressed concern over the board’s handling of the application as a whole, wondering why a fence hadn’t been constructed to screen the array from the road. Board members noted that there was no requirement to screen an array that had yet to be built.

The July 6 hearing was continued after talks devolved to personal attacks and insults.