Specifications include, but are not limited to: Proposal 1 – Please provide the Town financial proposals if the town ordinance was applied to the property for a solar project.The project would be defined as a Major Solar Installation per Section 38-292 of The Foster Zoning ordinance: Major solar installation means a solar installation designed primarily to sell electricity to a utility supplier, or a solar installation exceeding 1,750 square feet or greater. Solar installations larger than 40 acres are prohibited.Setbacks for Major Solar Installations per Section 38-292 are 200 feet from all adjacent property lines, such projects are eligible for reduction to 100 feet with approval through the Zoning Board of Review. Application of the 200 ft setback would render the project unfeasible. The selected developer would have to prove that the proposed solar array would have adequate terrain masking to protect view from adjacent properties and roadways. The net yield of available land less the 100 ft buffer is approximately 2 acres. See the attached map showing a 100 ft setback. Prospective developers are expected to submit proposals based on these restrictions. Proposal 2 – Please provide the town financial proposals that would maximize on potential usable land available on the town property. Proposal 2 would account for appropriate siting and setbacks, or additional measures to eliminate any potential impact on adjacent properties or current use of the site. The second proposal as described herein may not be confined to current zoning restrictions.The selected developer would be expected to develop a solar project at the town owned land within three (3) years of executing a contract agreement with the Town and participate in either the Renewable Energy Growth (“REG”) Program or the Virtual Net Metering (“VNM”) Program as an eligible off taker with the solar system.
