Hickory Ridge Solar Project Nears Completion

Report on the Meeting of the Conservation Commission, October 28, 2026

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

Present

Andrey Guidera (Chair), Jason Dorney, Rachel Loeffler, Deborah May, Sarah Matthews, and Bruce Stedman.  Absent: Carol McNeary

Staff: Erin Jacque (Conservation Agent) and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager)

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Region No Longer in a Drought

Conservation Commission Chair Andrey Guidera announced that the drought status for Amherst is now “normal conditions”.

PureSky Receives Approval of Changes to Containment Systems at Hickory Ridge

Neil Brewster of PureSky Energy returned to the Conservation Commission to obtain approval of changes made last fall to the transformer and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) pads after the originally proposed materials were not available. PureSky had changed to a PVC geomembrane without first notifying the commission. 

When commission members learned of the change in August, they admonished the company for not coming to them first for approval and requested that PureSky return to present the new system’s specifications and its engineering evaluation before the notice of intent could be amended. 

Brewster contended that the new system’s specifications were the same as the previously approved ones, and that it is designed to contain twice as much mineral and to automatically seal if it senses hydrocarbons, to prevent any material from leaking. The pads are warrantied for 20 years, the same as PureSky’s lease for the site at Hickory Ridge. They will be inspected twice annually.

Conservation Agent Erin Jacque said that the department had received stamped letters from engineers attesting to the reliability of the geomembrane pads. The Department of Environmental Protection and Natural Heritage had no concerns about the change in materials either. The draft conditions for the project require notifying the town of any incident at the site and outlining actions to be taken. One of the planned walking paths at the site is near one of the two solar arrays.

Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek said PureSky is working closely with the Amherst Fire Department (AFD) to complete commissioning of the solar arrays and BESS, which he hopes will occur by the end of the year. The town’s electrical inspectors have also been at the site regularly.

The main work still needed is replacing the bridge to provide full access to the site. This is expected to be completed over the next three weeks. Emergency access is now available through the Mill Valley Apartments.

Brewster said the AFD is requiring a second, external alarm for the BESS that would directly alert the department in the event of a fire. He said that one of the two solar arrays is already operating and sending energy to the grid. 

The commissioners had no new concerns with the project and unanimously approved the new Notice of Intent.

Erosion Compliance Still an Issue at 48 Canton Avenue

Jacque reported that water continues to run off the construction site at 48 Canton Avenue onto the street and into wetlands, despite repeated warnings to add appropriate erosion control. The existing straw bales are completely degraded and have not been replaced, despite several notifications over the past five months. Jacque also suspected that some of the wetland had been filled in during the construction of the driveway.

Jacque explained that the property owner was given approval to construct a single-family home about seven years ago, but then sold the property to another owner who decided to construct a two-family dwelling without obtaining new permits from the Building Commissioner and Conservation Commission. The Building Commissioner has issued a “stop-work” order, so no further work is occurring, but the run-off situation has not been remedied.

Jacque has consulted with the town attorney about possible actions the commission may take. K-P Law said that the commission can issue fines or revoke the permit, but that in any case the project will require a new permit to proceed. Jacque said that only Ziomek or the police department can issue the fines, and that they would be difficult to administer. She added that she thinks that the property owner is working with a consultant, but has not heard any details. The town cannot install any erosion control on the site, because it is private property.

Commissioners felt issuing fines was the best option because the owner had not responded to the stop-work order or several notices. Commissioner Sarah Matthews said state law allows fines of up to $25,000 for noncompliance with wetlands law.  Owners legally have 45 days to institute needed changes.

Jacque said she will communicate the possibility of fines to the owner and will go back to K-P Law to find out what specific steps the commission needs to take to levy additional fines or formally revoke the permit. She will get back to the commission at the November 18 meeting.

Dorney Elected Chair of Conservation Commission

Jason Dorney was unanimously elected to be chair of the Conservation Commission for the coming year. Rachel Loeffler will be vice-chair.

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