Greenskies agrees to larger inverter setback, will provide visual simulation for Scotland solar project

Representatives of Greenskies updated the Scotland Board of Selectmen on a proposed solar project on April 23, saying the company has agreed to increase the inverter distance from neighbors’ property lines and will provide visual materials for public review.

A Greenskies representative said the inverter setback will be doubled from 215 feet to 449 feet to reduce disturbance to nearby livestock. The company expects to deliver a visual simulation of the project view from Gager Hill Road, showing vegetative screening and agricultural-style fencing, in about one month.

On insurance and abutter protections, the Greenskies representative told the board that the company’s liability insurance would cover third-party property damage in events such as panels detaching, but that it does not typically add adjoining homeowners as additional insured; usually only parties with a direct interest in the facility (landlords, contractors, financiers) are named. The company declined to discuss a local tax-stabilization agreement pending resolution of a proposed state-mandated payment calculation described in the meeting as $12,000 per megawatt with a 2% annual rise until the project goes offline.

What happens next: Greenskies will work with individual neighbors and produce a public visual simulation to be provided for reference once complete.