Martha’s Vineyard Commission considers Cronig’s solar project

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A photo illustration shows the proposed solar panels that would be erected in the Cronig's parking lot off State Road in Vineyard Haven. — Photo courtesy of Vineyard Power

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 2, to shine some light on a proposal to install three solar canopies in the Cronig’s Market parking lot off State Road in Vineyard Haven.

Cronig’s owner Steve Bernier and Vineyard Power Cooperative (VPC) are the co-applicants for this development of regional impact (DRI). The project will be designed and installed by South Mountain Company of West Tisbury. Vineyard Power Solar, a subsidiary of VPC, will lease the Cronig’s location and own the solar array.

At a pre-public hearing meeting with the MVC’s Land Use Planning Committee on January 23, Rob Meyers of South Mountain Company said the solar arrays would produce about one-quarter of the store’s annual electricity load. The three canopies are expected to generate an estimated 250,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity a year.

South Mountain president John Abrams said the height of the canopies would range from 13 feet on the low side to 18 feet high at their tallest point. The canopy poles also will be equipped with six charging units for electric cars, VPC president Richard Andre said.

Several of the commissioners asked for information that should be discussed at the public hearing, including the project’s contribution to increasing the Island’s renewable energy production, financing plans, design detail, visual impact, and landscaping.

The hearing starts at 7:45 pm, at the MVC offices in Oak Bluffs.