ÈËÊÞÐÔ½»

The state Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment decided last month to approve the request from the advocacy group, which is called the Rural Preservation and Net Conservation Benefit Coalition.

The group, which recently began circulating petitions in area stores in opposition to the project, previously was granted access to $30,000 in intervenor funding, which is a pool of money that the project developer pays as part of the application process. Affected municipalities and local third-parties can apply for these funds to help with their own review efforts.

Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources, a sister company of Florida Power & Light Co., is proposing to install solar panels and related equipment for generating, storing and transmitting electricity on 1,300 acres of leased or purchased private property in the town of Conquest, with the remaining footprint used for buffer areas. The final decision on whether the project can go forward rests with the state siting board.

Rural Preservation and Net Conservation Benefit Coalition originally secured $30,000 in intervenor funding to be used to hire a law firm that specializes in these kinds of project reviews, along with two experts — one to review terrestrial and wetland ecology and wildlife impact, and another who specializes in avian affects.

The coalition recently went back to the siting board and sought authorization to also use the money to retain the services of a visual impact expert, which the board approved in a Feb. 17 filing.

The coalition is also planning a community informational meeting this week. It is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 5, at the Conquest Fire Department. The gathering is open to the public, including non-residents, and social distancing and masks will be required.

NextEra has said it hopes to secure approval in time to start construction on the solar farm in August 2022 and bring the facility online in 2023.