To the Editor:

I don’t know if many folks are aware of the proposed 44-acre solar array for a 66-acre parcel of land on Dunnsville Road.

There are homes adjacent to the property and across Dunnsville road; those properties would have a view of a solar panels, electrical poles; and anything else supporting the structures; in addition, Orchard Creek Golf Club borders this project, from Dunnsville Road to the Bozenkill.

Anyone traveling Dunnsville Road, in either direction, would have full view of the project. The property for the proposed project is on a slope, making fencing and plantings minimally effective in shielding the industrial project from view, if at all.

This negative economic impact of this project on homes, property, and business would be significant. There is a newly constructed home directly across Dunnsville Road from the project; in fact, the construction and maintenance entrance to the proposed solar array is directly in line with this homeowner’s driveway; this lovely, newly constructed home will suffer significant decrease in property value which could conceivably make it unmarketable.

The homeowner invested hard-earned money in a home with a front porch and a bucolic view of the Helderberg Mountains, a golf course, and Albany and the hills of Rensselaer in the distance — all that homeowner will see if this project is approved is 44 acres of industrial solar panels literally in the front yard.

Now imagine if that were your home, if that were your view. There are other homes on Dunnsville Road that will also have an impact on their property values; however, this home has perhaps the most significant.

Orchard Creek Golf Club will also be economically affected. Full disclosure, I am married to John Abbruzzese, who, along with his brothers, Joe, Dan, and Jim, built, own, and operate the golf course.

The course was designed by Paul Cowley, an Altamont native; with Paul’s expertise and artistic perspective, the golf course was situated to maximize the view of the Helderberg Mountains. With construction of the proposed solar project, half of the holes on the course will now have a solar array, an industrial installation, distracting and disrupting those gorgeous views.

Orchard Creek’s wedding venue, and even portions of the dining patio will have solar installations in the sight lines.

I am not anti-solar; in fact, I applaud lawmakers and property owners for recognizing the need to develop environmentally friendly renewable energy sources. However, I am sharing this information to, hopefully, start a community conversation about responsible, respectful solar development in western Guilderland.

There are two recently constructed solar projects in western Guilderland, one off of Becker Road and another on Route 20 on the Knaggs farm; both of these projects are situated such that there is minimal, if any, view of them from roads and homesites. These projects should set the standard by which any solar project should be evaluated.

I do not advocate a NIMBY — Not in My Backyard — approach; rather, a NIMF —  Not in My Face! — approach.

I encourage members of the community to take a ride out Dunnsville Road and imagine what it may look like if this project is given the green light. If you, as I and others directly impacted, are concerned about this, please let town officials know!

Donna Abbruzzese

Guilderland