Here Comes the Sun: Zoning Board Gives Solar Facility the Green Light, With Conditions

A developer received approval to move ahead with the construction of a solar farm planned for 970 Holmdel Road, provided certain conditions are met. The approval was granted by the Holmdel Zoning Board of Adjustment after three hours of testimony last night. 

Representatives of OCI Solar Power (also known as Cornerstone Holmdel, LLC) came before the board to seek variances to build a 4.8 mega watt solar panel facility on a 34-acre tract of farmland.

As a general rule-of-thumb peak generation from a 4 mega watt facility powers approximately 1200 households, according to township engineer Bonnie Heard.

The parcel had previously been approved for office use, but an office building was never built. 

Variances were sought to construct more than 18,200 individual ground-mounted solar panels on 16 acres of the farmland located on the west side of Holmdel Road and north of Hop Brook Lane.

The mounted graphite-colored panels are 3 feet by five feet and will tilt imperceptibly and silently throughout the day to follow the sun, according to Beacon Planning consultant Andrew Janiw.

"Their impact will be minimal or non-existent," said Janiw, "with no noise, no traffic, no town services required, and no glare."

Additionally, the panels are not flammable and the polysilicon glass cells are encased in aluminum, wiring, and metal, much like a computer screen, so there is nothing that can "run off" the panels or leach into the ground, he said.

“The site is ideally suited for a utility scale installation,” said Dan Somers, senior vice president of OCI Solar Power, “because this area of the United States needs more power.”

“This particular site has ideal topography because it's relatively flat and interconnection costs will be relatively low,” said Somers.

The irregularly shaped property, a T-shape oriented with both east-west and north-south biases, is advantageously situated to take full advantage of peak sunlight, according to OCI officials.

Still to be ironed out are details regarding the width of the proposed driveway leading into the property and its material. Current ordinance calls for an 18 to 20 foot paved driveway. CornerStone Holmdel was seeking a variance for a 12 foot gravel driveway because traffic would be confined to maintenance vehicles once or twice a month and gravel is preferable to more impervious coverage. Zoning Board officials were concerned that fire trucks be able to enter and turn around should the need arise. Approval was granted on condition that fire officials and Cornerstone would meet to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement

The project will help New Jersey reach a goal of achieving 30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

“New Jersey has a very aggressive goal to generate renewable energy and this will help it meet its solar power goal,” concluded Somers.