With about half the households responding to a survey regarding the Columbia Solar and Battery Storage Project, 78 percent said they oppose it.
The Town of Columbia Board worked with the town’s Planning Board to send a survey of four questions to 731 households in the town. Every adult in the household could have a vote.
Of the 736 people who responded, 78 percent, or 577, said they oppose the project. Sixteen percent, or 116 people, said they are in favor of it.
Another 6 percent, 44 people, said they had no opinion on it.
EDF Renewables plans to put a 2,200-acre 350 MW solar panel farm with 20 battery storage stations centered in Columbia, with some of the project going into the towns of Litchfield and Winfield. A farm on Route 20 in Winfield has signed a lease with EDF.
At last week’s Town of Columbia Board meeting, the survey results were reviewed. Councilman H. Ed Reed said they are on the town’s website for people to review.
Survey information was given to EDF two days before the meeting when the company hosted an Open House in Ilion.
Reed said the responses seemed to line up with the known population of households, with most cards carrying votes by two to four people. “There’s no evidence of any attempt to sway the vote one way or the other,’’ he said.
The group Protect Columbia, organized by town resident Nathan Seamon, said there are concerns about the impact of the project on the environment, health and safety and scenary. “All things considered, the negative issues related to a solar and battery storage project of this size and scale far outweigh any positives,’’ he said.
Also at the Board meeting those Board members and residents who attended the Open House spoke about their impressions. Councilman Gene Doremus said he gave EDF an A-plus for their presentation, which included videos, experts to answer questions and informational posters.
Doremus said EDF talked about the fire safety aspect of the project and…
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