Residents of South Post Road are concerned about the plans to install a solar field directly behind some their homes on the campus of Mercer County Community College (MCCC) beginning in May. They have drafted an online petition to Governor Christie’s office to “say no to a power facility in suburban West Windsor.”
The residents believe the large-scale solar project should be located in an industrial zone and not in proximity to a large public park, a residential neighborhood, and on land that is zoned for education.
“We want Mercer County and West Windsor to preserve its open space, not replace farmland with for-profit industrial use. Mercer County Community College is leasing out 45 acres of farmland — zoned for educational use — for a $35 million power generation facility,” the petition states.
Florida-based SunLight General Capital will lease the property and operate the solar facility, making profits by selling solar energy credits to the state and selling energy back to MCCC. Original plans stated that greenery will be added to block the view of the solar field, but residents say that 130 trees will be cut down and there’s been no mention of replanting.
The petition currently has over 120 signatures. It can be accessed at the following link: www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-nj-say-no-to-a-power-facility-in-suburban-west-windsor
