onnie and Doug Howe thought is was just another piece of junk mail promising riches at the end of an unknown phone number. At first they ignored the flyer, which was from a company called Innovative Solar Systems, but it sat on the table taunting them.
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TORRINGTON – Connie and Doug Howe thought is was just another piece of junk mail promising riches at the end of an unknown phone number. At first they ignored the flyer, which was from a company called Innovative Solar Systems, but it sat on the table taunting them. The flyer said ISS was looking for land lease opportunities on which to build a solar farm. The Howe’s had some land that seemed to be what ISS was looking for and finally they called the number. After all they didn’t have to commit to anything.
“They sent out flyers to people who lived along the power lines,” said Connie. “We called them last May, with a map of our property and they talked to us and were very interested.”
Interested enough that the Howe’s got a two year lease from ISS, sight unseen, on their 320 acre tract of land that seemed to meet all the requirements.
“There couldn’t be any buildings on the property,” Connie said. “And no mineral development or underground pipelines. There couldn’t be any trees or other obstacles to remove and we had to own the mineral rights and can’t lease it out for drilling or mining.
“Probably, most importantly, transmission lines have to be on the property.”
Currently, the Howes lease the land for grazing in the summer, which they can still do until construction on the solar farm begins, which Connie said would be at least two years while the company completes the legal work and permitting necessary to carry out the construction and sale of electrical power. A timeline that ISS Land Acquisition Manager Lionel Gilbert said is realistic, but not guaranteed.