So-called 'ugly' solar panels find supporters during Ledyard review

Oct 29 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Matt Collette The Day, New London, Conn.

At a meeting held to discuss the solar panels installed on the roofs of Town Hall and the Bill Library, a larger question emerged: What is the role of green energy in a traditional New England village?

Eric Treaster, chairman of the Zoning Commission and acting zoning enforcement official, chaired Thursday night's meeting of the Architectural Review Board for the Ledyard Center Village District. He said he thinks solar panels are "ugly" and should be as hidden from public view as possible.

But many other town officials said they think that embracing solar technology -- even in a visible way -- adds to the area's character.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," said Town Council Chairman Terry Jones. "I think many people would see these panels and think this community is environmentally friendly, is moving forward. And I think people will see this is a community that supports green energy."

The only other member of the review board present, Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen, said the idea of community buildings generating their own energy fits in well with traditional New England values.

"We want to look like a New England village and keep that old New England context," DiGiacomo-Cohen said. "But there was no one thriftier than old New Englanders. If they thought it was going to save them money, they would have put this up."

Rebecca Graebner, who chairs the Library Commission, said she had received overwhelming support for installing the panels on Bill Library.

Vincent Godino, vice chairman of the Historic District Commission, said the placement of the panels, on the newer portion of the library, respected the historic character of the original library.

"Really, there was no objection among any Historic District Commission members to putting solar panels on the new part of the building," Godino said.

Town Planner Charles Karno questioned why Treaster had convened the review board, which had not met in about two years, to address the panels, which were already in place.

"Mr. Chairman, I don't know why you're making this so hard," Karno said. "These solar panels are important, they're utilitarian and a decision ... should be very easy to make."

In the end, the Architectural Review Board decided that both sets of panels, which were funded with federal stimulus money, conform to existing zoning regulations because they are hidden enough from view, installed flush against the roof in inconspicuous yet efficient areas.

The existing regulations do not specifically address solar panels, but say equipment such as transformers or air conditioning units installed in Ledyard Center should not be visible from public places.

"Unfortunately, when these regulations were written, the word 'green' was not in our vocabulary, so we're stuck with what we've got," Treaster said.