Simsbury Solar Farm 2026: What the Nod Road Project Means for Homeowners
If you've been hearing buzz about a solar farm proposed for Simsbury's Nod Road, you're not alone. A controversial $11 million solar array is at the center of a heated local debate — and it's made headlines in the Hartford Courant today. Here's what Simsbury homeowners need to know.
What's Being Proposed
Lodestar Energy has proposed a large utility-scale solar installation along Nod Road in Simsbury. The project would span a significant footprint and feed power directly into the grid — not to individual homes.
The Connecticut Siting Council, the state body that reviews large energy projects, signaled in late July 2026 that it intends to approve the array.
Why Some Simsbury Residents Are Pushing Back
The proposal has faced organized opposition:
- Simsbury filed a formal legal challenge to the Siting Council's preliminary approval, seeking to reverse the decision before a final vote later this year
- The owner of a disc golf course on the affected property says the array would force his business to close
- State Rep. Melissa Osborne (D-Simsbury) submitted a three-page letter to the Siting Council urging rejection, calling for stronger judgment before approving large ground-mount installations in residential areas
This is a real split in the community — and it highlights that "solar" doesn't automatically mean universal welcome, especially for utility-scale projects.
Utility-Scale vs. Residential Rooftop Solar
This is the key distinction worth understanding:
| Utility-Scale Solar (Simsbury Array) | Residential Rooftop Solar |
|---|---|
| 100+ acres, clears land | Installs on your existing roof or property |
| Benefits: large power contract | Benefits: your own lower electric bills |
| Community may see visual/land impact | Zero visual impact on neighbors |
| Developer profits, utilities ratepayers share costs | You own the system, you keep the savings |
| Subject to state siting approval | No siting council review needed |
What This Means for Simsbury Homeowners Considering Solar
If you're a Simsbury homeowner exploring solar right now, here's the honest picture:
The economics are strong in 2026:
- Connecticut's Eversource supply rate is 11.577¢/kWh (July 2026) — among the highest in the Northeast
- A typical Simsbury home consuming 700–900 kWh/month pays $140–$200 in supply charges
- A properly sized solar system eliminates most or all of that, depending on net metering rules
- Connecticut's property tax exemption (HB05442, active July 1, 2026) means solar won't increase your home assessment
Community solar is an alternative — but comes with trade-offs:
- If you can't install on your own roof, community solar lets you subscribe to a shared array and credit on your bill
- The trade-off: you don't own the system, and terms vary by program
- The Simsbury ground-mount proposal is not a community solar project — it's utility-scale
What Doesn't Change With the Simsbury Array
Whether the Nod Road project gets approved or Simsbury's legal challenge succeeds, the fundamentals for residential solar don't change:
- Your roof is yours — no siting council review for individual homeowner installations
- Connecticut law (HB5340, effective May 1, 2026) explicitly permits residential plug-in solar systems up to 1,200W without utility approval
- CT state incentives remain active in 2026
- The property tax exemption (HB05442) fully applies to residential installations
The Bottom Line
Simsbury's Nod Road debate is about large utility-scale solar — a different proposition than putting panels on your own home. If you've been curious about residential solar in Simsbury, the conversation hasn't changed: your roof, your bill, your savings.
Sources:
Hartford Courant, "Central CT suburb tries to fight looming approval for unwelcome solar farm," August 2, 2026
CT Siting Council procedural correspondence, PE1698
Connecticut HB05442 (property tax exemption, active July 1, 2026)
Connecticut HB5340 (plug-in solar authorization, effective May 1, 2026)
PURA Residential Aggregate Metering rates, July 2026