Solar farm proposed for residential land in Holbrook put on hold

A controversial solar farm proposal for a residential parcel in Holbrook is on hold after community opposition.

Solar power company SunEdison of Belmont, California, had proposed installing 5,000 solar panels on a Coates Avenue parcel owned by the Suffolk County Water Authority in a 20-year lease agreement.

But dozens of residents spoke out at a community meeting last month against clearing trees on the undeveloped parcel in a residential neighborhood, and expressed concerns about potential chemical and fire hazards from the farm.

The solar panels at the Holbrook site, from which 4 acres of trees would be cleared, would have generated 1.59 megawatts of direct current electricity, enough to power 136 homes a year and eliminate the carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to taking more than 314 cars off the road annually, according to SunEdison.

"There are no plans to move forward with the project. We have sat down with the water authority and SunEdison and they felt that right now is not the right time to move forward," said Brian Sapp, chief of staff for Suffolk Legis. William Lindsay (D-Holbrook), who has held meetings with residents and officials from SunEdison and the SCWA. "They're looking at what else is out there and where to put this project."

SCWA chief executive Jeffrey Szabo said in an email statement: "SunEdison is looking for alternative sites for the proposed solar farm, and we're supportive of their efforts."

SunEdison spokesman Ben Harborne said in an email that the company could not provide an official update.

Holbrook resident Sandra Oehler, who helped organize the meeting last month, said she hopes the community's voices will ultimately be heard.

"Right now, we're just waiting to see what happens," she said.

In May, SunEdison announced it had signed agreements to build seven solar plants on land owned by the water authority, the towns of East Hampton and Southold, and Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The Coates Avenue farm is the only one in these agreements that would be located in a residential community, Holbrook residents said at the meeting.

The rest are planned for areas such as former landfills and the Suffolk County-owned Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach.

A controversial solar farm proposal for a residential parcel in Holbrook is on hold after community opposition.

California solar power company SunEdison had proposed installing thousands of solar panels on a Coates Avenue parcel owned by the Suffolk County Water Authority.

But dozens of residents spoke out at a community meeting against tree-clearing the parcel in a residential neighborhood and hazards they believed would come from the solar farm.

"There are no plans to move forward with the project. We have sat down with the water authority and SunEdison and they felt that right now is not the right time to move forward," said Brian Sapp, chief of staff for Suffolk Legis. William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) who has met with residents as well as project proponents. "They're looking at what else is out there and where to put this project."

SCWA chief executive Jeffrey W. Szabo said in an email statement: "SunEdison is looking for alternative sites for the proposed solar farm, and we're supportive of their efforts."

SunEdison spokesman Ben Harborne said in an email that the company could not provide an official update.