WESTHAMPTON — About 40 people attended a Planning Board meeting Tuesday night and expressed differing opinions about a proposed 650-kilowatt ground-mounted solar array at Intervale Farm. The public hearing will continue at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4.

The proposed solar field would include over 2,000  panels on 2 acres on South Road. The land is owned by the Tracy family and will be leased to W.H. Bennett Inc., a company based on Martha’s Vineyard.

The town has no bylaws regarding solar operations and the project was filed under zoning bylaw concerning “public utility substations.”

However, the Planning Board and town counsel determined that the project is governed by this section of state law:   

“No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy except where necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.”

To gather more information on regulating solar arrays, the Planning Board will meet with a representative from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Planning Board Chairman Mark Schwallie said the commission could help educate the community about laws regulating solar energy.

Richard Tracy said the array would not be visible when driving north on South Road and partially visible when driving south.

“We don’t think it will bother anyone,” he said.

Small farm animals will be able to graze underneath the panels, according to Tracy.

Some residents voiced concerns about how the used solar panels might be recycled.

“What is it going to cost to get rid of a solar panel?” Westhampton resident Ginny Curtis said. “What is going to happen to every other 2-acre parcel in town?”

Patricia Lee Lewis, who has lived in Westhampton for about 40 years, said she hopes the board will approve the permit.

While many residents voiced concerns about the solar array attracting commercial development to the area, Lewis said the the Tracy family believes in preserving the town.

“They care about all the things we care about,” Lewis said. 

Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.