murdock farm
434 Killingly Road in Pomfret, Connecticut is being considered for an industrial scale energy facility.
residents should understand that this land is not a gravel pit. The site includes substantial natural-resource lands whose future should be openly discussed before decisions are made.
review the available information and
decide for yourself what the future
of murdock farm should be.
JUNE 24, 2026.
murdock farm photo update below.
knee high by the 4th of july!
take a photo tour of the property.
How are the ERT Reports Relevant?
These historical assessments document the property’s environmental characteristics and do not preclude current evaluations regarding 168 acres of prime agricultural soils, wetlands, forest resources, wildlife habitat, river access, archaeological considerations or its present use for farming and agriculture.
CT Siting Council Testimony
An approved solar project in East Windsor became commonly known as “Gravel Pit Solar” because portions of the site included existing sand and gravel extraction areas and other previously disturbed land.
Controversy centered on proposed expansion onto additional acreage containing agricultural soils, forested land, and farmland.
“It seems imprudent to sacrifice the future of Connecticut agriculture and our ability to produce food and fiber for grid-scale solar when there are sufficient alternatives.”
“There is no evidence to support the claim that decommissioned grid-scale solar developments are successfully returned to productive agriculture in Connecticut.”
— from Testimony Former Commissioner CT Dept. of Agriculture, Steven Reviczky, CT Siting Council Solar Application, October 2, 2025, Docket No. 492A, p. 1
How does this relate to the Murdock Farm Project?
Murdock Farm is being described as a gravel pit/former bulky waste site project on disturbed land.
The Reality:
The gravel area is only 10 +/- acres of the parcel.
168 acres are agricultural soils, forested land, and farmland, wetlands and river access. See the slideshow above to view.
in the news
Connecticut’s solar expansion is colliding with concerns over forests and farmland
“We’re taking open space, we’re taking fields and we’re commercializing them, in this case, with solar. I think that’s going the wrong direction.”
— Ned Lamont, Governor of Connecticut
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS: DID YOU KNOW?
Many residents are unaware that large areas of American farmland and open space are being leased for industrial-scale solar development, often involving corporations and investment groups headquartered outside the United States.
In neighboring New York State, hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural land have been proposed for or converted to solar energy projects. As these projects expand, many community members are asking important questions about long-term land use, local oversight, and public accountability.
Residents have expressed concerns that project applications frequently move through regulatory processes with limited opportunities for meaningful public review, while communities are often given short timelines to respond to complex proposals. Citizens deserve adequate time, transparency, and access to information before decisions affecting their communities are finalized.
Another concern involves ownership transfers. It is common in the energy industry for a developer that initially secures leases and permits to later sell, assign, transfer, or restructure ownership of a project. This raises questions about who will ultimately control the project and who will be responsible for meeting commitments made to local communities.
Questions the Pomfret Community Should Be Asking
The proposed Murdock lease describes an agreement between the Town of Pomfret and Greenskies. According to publicly available information, Greenskies’ parent company has investors based in Taiwan.
The lease also appears to allow the developer to assign its interests to affiliates, lenders, or future purchasers of the project under certain circumstances without requiring additional Town approval.
Before any agreement is finalized, residents may wish to ask:
- What protections exist if the project is sold or transferred to another owner?
- Will the Town have any authority to approve or reject future ownership changes?
- How will accountability to local residents be maintained if ownership changes hands?
- Who will be responsible for decommissioning, environmental compliance, and restoration obligations decades from now?
- What financial assurances are in place to protect taxpayers if a future owner becomes insolvent or dissolves?
- How will farmland preservation, property values, and community character be protected over the long term?
These are reasonable questions that deserve clear answers.
Regardless of one’s position on solar energy, transparency, accountability, and informed public participation are essential when decisions affect local farmland, natural habitats, and the future of communities.
What’s in a Name?
For decades, 434 Killingly Road has been known as Murdock Farm, a designation found in town-commissioned reports dated 1981 and 1996.
The land remains actively farmed today and contains prime agricultural soils and important natural resources. So why has “Murdock Farm” become the “Murdock Property”?
Words matter. Removing the word farm and referring to it as a gravel pit instead creates the impression that this is a degraded or underutilized site, rather than valuable land. Changing the label does not change the reality. And public decisions about its future should be based on facts, not framing. Why did the name change if the land itself hasn’t?
Archaeological Review
Former CT State Archaeologist Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni offered comprehensive insight into archaeological resources in Pomfret on Murdock Farm.
As a contributor to the town’s Environmental Review Team Report he suggested the property could support school programs, educational trails, community history projects, and public learning about more than 4,000 years of human history.
The report recommends working closely with the Connecticut Office of State Archaeology to conduct surveys, protect significant sites, and help develop educational programs that connect residents with the area’s rich cultural heritage.
In short, the report supports a vision of this Pomfret land not only as open space, but as a place where recreation, education, and preservation and community can all work together….one that emphasizes education, stewardship, local history, and partnership.
Want to know more? Read the ERT 4-96, pages 42–43 above.
From a Connecticut Congressman
“Connecticut’s natural resources are one of our greatest assets and preserving them requires strong local partnerships.” — Joe Courtney, U.S. Representative (D-CT)
JUNE 24, 2026.
murdock farm. Wetlands.
