Letter to the editor: Citizens should attend hearing on Fearing Hill solar project

To the Editor:

I would like to ask the citizens of Wareham to attend the Wareham Planning Board meeting September 14, at 6:00 pm. They are held on the second floor of the Multi Service Center at 48 Marion Road, Wareham.

This meeting will be the last public hearing on the Fearing Hill Solar project, and the last opportunity to make sure that there are conditions that protect the public in the final agreement.

There are many dangers to the health and welfare of the community that this project poses if it is built. Twenty acres of undisturbed woodlands, equivalent to 15 football fields, will be cleared and replaced with solar panels coated with toxic chemicals. This project site is on a very steep hill. The removal of the trees, which hold the soil in place and absorb water when it rains, will cause significant storm water run offinto the surrounding neighborhoods, damaging homes, drinking wells and sewer systems. The storm water running off of the solar panels could potentially be contaminated with toxic chemicals that would leach into the soil and pollute drinking wells and the Weweantic River watershed. This project will destroy wildlife habitat, disturb wildlife corridors and degrade the beauty of the conservation land it abuts.

Please consider attending this meeting and voice your concerns for your community and the environment.

Amy Tamagini