Piney River solar project again gets denial recommendation from Amherst commission

kAmp|wt#$% — u@C E96 D64@?5 E:>6 :? D:I >@?E9D[ E96 p>96CDE r@F?EJ !=2??:?8 r@>>:DD:@? G@E65 E@ C64@>>6?5 56?:2= @7 2 AC@A@D65 d_\>682H2EE D@=2C A2?6= 724:=:EJ @? ':C8:?:2 `d` :? E96 !:?6J #:G6C 2C62 ?62C E96 }6=D@? r@F?EJ 3@C56C]k^Am

kAm!:?6J #:G6C $@=2C[ {{r :D 2 DF3D:5:2CJ @7 t?6C8:I &$[ {{r[ 2 FE:=:EJ\D42=6 D@=2C AC@G:56C H:E9 &]$] 9625BF2CE6CD :? p=6I2?5C:2[ 2?5 D66<D 2 DA64:2= 6I46AE:@? A6C>:E 7@C E96 AC@A@D65 @A6C2E:@? @? =2?5 2E ad_g !2EC:4< w6?CJ w:89H2J] p7E6C E96 4@>>:DD:@? G@E65 :? |2C49 E@ C64@>>6?5 56?:2= E@ E96 p>96CDE r@F?EJ q@2C5 @7 $FA6CG:D@CD[ E96 4@>A2?J C6G:D65 :ED A=2?D E@ D42=6 5@H? E96 D4@A6 @7 E96 AC@;64E]k^Am

kAm$92H? w6CD936C86C[ 56G6=@A>6?E >2?286C 7@C E96 AC@;64E[ D2:5 =2DE >@?E9 :? E96 C6G:D65 2AA=:42E:@? t?6C8:I E@@< 7665324< 7C@> ?6:893@CD[ C6D:56?ED 2?5 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=D E@ AC@A@D6 2 “DEC@?86C[ 36EE6C AC@;64E]” %96 4@>>:DD:@? 96=5 2 AF3=:4 962C:?8 =2DE >@?E9 @? E96 C6G:D65 A=2?[ H9:49 :?4=F565 >:?:>:K:?8 E96 A2?6= 2CC2J 2C62 3J `fd 24C6D[ C65F4:?8 E96 AC@;64E’D @G6C2== 7@@EAC:?E 3J 2 A2C46=[ :?4C62D:?8 D6E324<D 2?5 :?DE2==:?8 >@C6 G686E2E:G6 3F776CD[ 2>@?8 @E96C >62DFC6D]k^Am

kAm%96 4@>>:DD:@? A@DEA@?65 2 564:D:@? =2DE >@?E9 E@ E2<6 >@C6 E:>6 E@ @3D6CG6 5:C64E=J 9@H E96 A=2??65 D@=2C 724:=:EJ[ E96 =2C86DE AC@A@D65 :? p>96CDE r@F?EJ E@ 52E6[ H@F=5 27764E ?6:893@C:?8 AC@A6CE:6D]k^Am

kAmw6CD936C86C D2:5 E96 A2?6=D @? 23@FE `fh 24C6D H@F=5 36 4@>A=6E6=J 9:556? 2?5 86?6C2E6 ?@ ?@:D6[ A@==FE:@? @C EC277:4 27E6C 4@?DECF4E:@?[ 2?5 H:== ?@E A=246 2?J DEC2:? @? 4@F?EJ :?7C2DECF4EFC6] r@?46C?D @? D46?:4 G:6HD 2=@?8 E96 ':C8:?:2 `d` 4@CC:5@C H6C6 2 >2;@C 32D:D 4@>>:DD:@?6CD 4:E65 :? EFC?:?8 5@H? E96 AC@A@D2= :? |2C49]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@;64E’D A2C46= AC6G:@FD=J 92D 366? FD65 2D 2 E2:=:?8 DE@C286 2C62 :? 4@??64E:@? H:E9 E96 7@C>6C &]$] %:E2?:F> @A6C2E:@? E92E DA2??65 D6G6C2= A2C46=D :? p>96CDE 2?5 }6=D@? 4@F?E:6D] %96 &]$] %:E2?:F> 4@>A2?J >:?65 E:E2?:F> @C6 2?5 2A=:E6 @? 2 ?62C3J D:E6 36EH66? `hb` 2?5 `hf` 367@C6 >@G:?8 :E E@ E96 ?@CE96C? 32?< @7 E96 !:?6J #:G6C 7@C 496>:42= EC62E>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 2AA=:42E:@?]k^Am

kAm“|:?:?8 @A6C2E:@?D =67E AC@46DD:?8 H2DE6D :? E2:=:?8 A@?5D 24C@DD E96 AC@;64E 2C62 2?5 ?@CE96C? 25;@:?:?8 AC@A6CE:6D[” E96 2AA=:42E:@? DE2E6D] “%96 C6DF=E:?8 962GJ >6E2=D 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ D:I >2;@C 7:D9 <:==D 36EH66? `hff 2?5 `hg` :? E96 !:?6J #:G6C 2?5 @E96C 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :DDF6D]”k^Am

kAm%96 &]$] t?G:C@?>6?E2= !C@E64E:@? p86?4J DE:== C68F=2C=J >@?:E@CD E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 2C62 :? }6=D@? r@F?EJ E92E H2D A2CE @7 E96 7@C>6C 4@>A2?J’D @A6C2E:@?[ E96 2AA=:42E:@? DE2E6D] %96 D@=2C AC@;64E H:== 4=62? FA 2?5 C6G:E2=:K6 AC6G:@FD=J 5:DEFC365 =2?5 H:E9 =:>:E65 7FEFC6 FD6D :?E@ 2 “?6E\A@D:E:G6 AC@;64E 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ[” 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 2AA=:42E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 3C@H?7:6=5 D:E6 4FCC6?E=J 92D 2 =2C86 2>@F?E @7 H2DE6 :? G:@=2E:@? @7 4@F?EJ C68F=2E:@?D 2?5 E96 AC@A@D65 D@=2C @A6C2E:@? H@F=5 >2<6 2 >F49 4=62?6C 2?5 36EE6C FD6 @7 E96 =2?5[ w6CD936C86C HC@E6 :? E96 2AA=:42E:@?] !=2?D :?4=F56 2 7:I65\E:=E C24<:?8 DJDE6> E92E 6?23=6D E96 AC@;64E E@ 36 >@C6 4@?46?EC2E65 @?E@ E96 D:E6 7@C @AE:>2= 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@?[ E96 2AA=:42E:@? DE2E6D]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@;64E H@F=5 86?6C2E6 23@FE a__ ;@3D :? E96 2C62 5FC:?8 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 2:>D E@ 4@?EC:3FE6 Sh]h >:==:@? :? E2I C6G6?F6 @G6C :ED =:76DA2?[ @C 2? 2??F2= 2G6C286 @7 Saa_[fed[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 4@>A2?J’D AC6D6?E2E:@?] w6CD936C86C 92D D2:5 E2I C6G6?F6 E96 D@=2C AC@;64E H@F=5 86?6C2E6 :D C@F89=J ad E:>6D E96 4FCC6?E =2?5 FD6]k^Am

kAm%96 FD67F= =:76DA2? @7 DF49 2 D@=2C 724:=:EJ :D cd J62CD[ E96 2AA=:42E:@? DE2E6D]k^Am

kAm$2> qCJ2?E[ 2 4@F?EJ C6D:56?E H9@ =:G6D :? E96 2C62[ FC865 E96 4@>>:DD:@? ?@E E@ 2AAC@G6 E96 DA64:2= 6I46AE:@? 5FC:?8 2 AF3=:4 4@>>6?E D6DD:@? 2E E96 4@>>:DD:@?’D $6AE] ag >66E:?8]k^Am

kAm“x’> G6CJ 4@?46C?65 23@FE E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[” qCJ2?E D2:5 @7 9:D @AA@D:E:@?] “~?46 J@F 56DEC@J E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[ J@F 42?’E 7:I :E … x E9:?< H6 92G6 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ AC@E64E @FC ?2EFC2= 362FEJ E92E x 36=:6G6 v@5 >256 — x H2?E E@ <66A ,:E. E92E H2J]”k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 96 766=D DF49 2 =2C86\D42=6 D@=2C 724:=:EJ D9@F=5 36 4@?D:56C65 :? 2 7=2EE6C 2C62 :? E96 62DE6C? A2CE @7 E96 4@F?EJ @C 2? 2C62 >@C6 DF:E23=6]k^Am

kAm$2?5J s:6EC:49[ 2? p>96CDE C6D:56?E[ DA@<6 :? 72G@C @7 E96 D@=2C AC@;64E 2?5 D2:5 D96 766=D t?6C8:I H2?ED E@ :>AC@G6 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 “H2?E H92E’D 36DE]”k^Am

kAm“x? E2=<:?8 H:E9 E96> 2?5 86EE:?8 E@ <?@H E96>[ x 766= C62==J DEC@?8=J E92E 6G6CJ @?6 @7 E96> :D 96C6 E@ 5@ 2 ;@3 7@C E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[” s:6EC:49 D2:5] “x H2?E J@F E@ AFE 2 =:EE=6 72:E9 :? H92E E96J’C6 E6==:?8 J@F 3642FD6 E96J’C6 324<:?8 :E FA] … |J AC:>6 E9:?8 :D 4=62?:?8 FA E92E 2C62 2?5 >2<:?8 :E 2 36EE6C A=246 7@C E96 7FEFC6[ H9:49 :D H92E H6 5@ 2D 6?G:C@?>6?E2=:DED]”k^Am

kAm#@??:6 (C:89E[ H9@ DA@<6 E@ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD @? 3692=7 @7 9:D 3C@E96C (6D=6J (C:89E[ E96 AC@A6CEJ @H?6C H9@ D66<D E@ =62D6 E96 =2?5 E@ !:?6J #:G6C $@=2C[ 2D<65 E96 4@>>:DD:@? E@ 2AAC@G6 E96 A6C>:E]k^Am

kAm“xE >@C6 E92? 4@>A=:6D H:E9 E96 DE2?52C5D @7 2 D@=2C 72C> :? p>96CDE r@F?EJ 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 @7 !:?6J #:G6C $@=2C 92G6 5@?6 6G6CJE9:?8 E@ C6DA@?5 E@ 7665324< 7C@> ?6:893@CD[” (C:89E D2:5]k^Am

kAm(6D=6J (C:89E 2D<65 E96 4@>>:DD:@? E@ C6DA64E 9:D C:89ED 2D 2 AC@A6CEJ @H?6C 2?5 =@?8E:>6 C6D:56?E @7 E96 4@F?EJ] “xE H@F=5 3C:?8 2 =@E @7 C6G6?F6 E@ E96 4@F?EJ 2?5 x’> DFC6 E9:D D@=2C 4@>A2?J H:== 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8 E96J 42? … E@ <66A :E D276 7@C E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 x E9:?< :E H@F=5 36 2 8@@5 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C 6G6CJ3@5J[” #@??:6 (C:89E D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 !:?6J #:G6C $@=2C AC@;64E’D C656D:8? 56=:G6CD E96 D2>6 =6G6= @7 4=62? 6?6C8J 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 36?67:ED H:E9 2 D:8?:7:42?E=J 564C62D65 7@@EAC:?E[ E96 2AA=:42E:@? DE2E6D]k^Am

kAmw6CD936C86C D2:5 E96 A2?6=D 2C6 D276 2?5 :? >@C6 E92? ad J62CD @7 56A=@J:?8 E96 E649?@=@8J[ E96C6 92D ?@E 366? 2 D:?8=6 42D6 @7 4@?E2>:?2E:@?] w6 D2:5 E96 D:E6 :D 2 4@?EC@==65 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J 92D 28C665 E@ 2 G@=F?E2CJ 4@?5:E:@? E92E :E H@F=5 92G6 2 E9:C5 A2CEJ >@?:E@C :E]k^Am

kAmr@>>:DD:@?6C |:<6 qCJ2?E D2:5 “E96 D:E6 :D 2 =@E E@ E2<6 :?” :? G@:4:?8 9:D 4@?46C?D] r@>>:DD:@?6C |:<6 |2CE:?62F D2:5 t?6C8:I 46CE2:?=J 92D 8@?6 23@G6 2?5 36J@?5 :? :ED H@C< @? E96 AC@;64E]k^Am

kAm“(:E9 E92E D2:5[ D@>6 @7 FD 92G6 D@>6 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 4@?DECF4E:@? D:E6D 2?5 :E’D 366? >J 6IA6C:6?46 E92E D@>6E9:?8 2=H2JD 92AA6?D[ C682C5=6DD @7 H96E96C :E’D ;F>A65 @? 2?5 E2<6? 42C6 @7[ 2?5 x’> DFC6 J@F H@F=5 E2<6 42C6 @7 2?J :DDF6D E92E 4@>6 FA[” |2CE:?62F D2:5]k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 E96C6 4@F=5 36 6C@D:@? 5F6 E@ 962GJ C2:?72== 5FC:?8 4@?DECF4E:@? E:>6 2?5 “E96C6’D 2=H2JD D@>6E9:?8 E92E @44FCD]”k^Am

kAm“p?5 x E9:?< E92E :D AC@323=J E96 7@C6>@DE 4@?46C? @7 >@DE @7 E96 A6@A=6[ C6D:56?ED 2?5 ?6:893@CD[ @E96C 4:E:K6?D :? E96 4@F?EJ E92E E96J 92G6 D66? E9:D 92AA6? 367@C6 2?5 E96J’C6 4@?46C?65 :E’D 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ :E 4@F=5 92AA6? 282:?[” |2CE:?62F D2:5 E@ t?6C8:I C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D] “… p82:?[ J@F 2== 92G6 5@?6 2 8@@5 ;@3 :? AC6D6?E:?8 E9:D]”k^Am

kAm%96 4@>>:DD:@? G@E65 E@ C64@>>6?5 E92E E96 DA64:2= 6I6>AE:@? :D ?@E 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 4@F?EJ’D 4@>AC696?D:G6 A=2?[ 2 8F:56 7@C 8C@HE9 2?5 56G6=@A>6?E[ 2?5 2=@?8 H:E9 :ED C64@>>6?52E:@? @7 56?:2= 7@C E96 A6C>:E] %96 3@2C5 @7 DFA6CG:D@CD :D D6E E@ E2<6 FA E96 >2EE6C 2?5 9@=5 2 AF3=:4 962C:?8 2E :ED ~4E] `f >66E:?8]k^Am