The company has applied for an exemption from having to do an environmental assessment for the project, based on the exemption granted to ActewAGL when it applied to build a solar farm on the same site in 2012. ActewAGL missed out on a feed-in tariff in the ACT government's solar auction so dropped its project, but the site has now been offered to Elementus as a circuit-breaker in the long-running fight over Elementus' first choice of site, at Uriarra village.

Elementus' application for an exemption from having to do the environment assessment is out for consultation until May 26. The company says ActewAGL's solar farm would have been twice the size, at 20MW. Its 10MW solar farm would be built within the boundaries of the ActewAGL proposal.

The site is on the corner of the Monaro Highway and Angle Crossing Road, behind an old service station, and Elementus said it was in view of just six homes.

The project would potentially trigger the need for an environment assessment on a number of grounds, including the clearing of native vegetation, its location in a river catchment, and its size.

While renewable energy projects of more than 4MW have required a environment impact assessment, Elementus pointed out that the government changed the capacity by regulation in 2012 to smooth the way for its renewables agenda, lifting the capacity for an environment assessment to 20MW.

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The solar panels would sit up to 2.6 metres above the ground and rotate horizontally, parallel with the ground, to catch morning and evening sun. The array would be visible to three ACT homes and three in NSW, the nearest 150 metres away, and the most distant 2.1 kilometres to the north.

As well as the security fence, a 1.8 metre Colourbond fence would be built on the northern boundary as a firebreak, and painted a suitable colour, such as "woodland grey". The Monaro Highway would be screened by 30 metres of tree plantings..

The site would be surrounded by 1.8 metre high security fencing and include the demolition of a farm house and outbuildings and the construction of an office, visitor centre and parts storage, all from shipping containers, along with water tanks for fire fighting.

Elementus said it had consulted with local residents, but adjoining farmers Michael and Brett McDonald have raised concerns publicly about the glare and traffic from the project, calling for it to be pushed back from the road.

Elementus ran into major trouble with local residents over the siting of the proposed Uriarra solar farm, over the road from the village, and will be hoping for a smoother run with the Williamsdale site. The government stepped in in March, buying the Williamsdale site from Actew and planning to sell it to Elementus.