No hand-count was needed to know that an as-of-right zoning change to allow for large-scale solar photovoltaic energy generation at the Transfer Station was approved by more than the required two-thirds of voters at this week’s Special Town Meeting. What came as news to many was that the town was already thinking about how to take advantage of the new zoning.
According to Selectman Ron Ricci, once the news of the possible zoning change was out, he was contacted by two local people interested in a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the town to build a large photovoltaic system at the site. PPAs allow companies to front the investment and construction of large-scale energy generation or energy efficiency changes, while giving municipalities a predictable energy price over time. Companies and towns can both take advantage of federal renewable energy incentives to reduce their investment costs. Companies can also get tax credits for their investment and pass these savings on to municipal customers. Ricci said he passed the contacts to the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee (HEAC) for further discussion.
HEAC had proposed the zoning change to the Board of Selectmen as a feasible way to meet one of the five Green Community requirements, with the most potential benefit and the least impact to the town. For eligibility in the Green Communities Grant Program, cities and towns are asked to allow as-of-right zoning for at least one of three possible renewable energy projects: renewable energy generation, research and development, or manufacturing. Given the town’s limited manufacturing zoning and its ongoing experience with noise issues at Evergreen Solar in Devens, zoning for energy generation was chosen. HEAC looked into the zoning that already exists at Devens, but several factors, including timing and jurisdictional constraints, precluded Devens’ zoning from fulfilling Harvard’s requirement in the near term.
Many communities across the state have chosen landfill zoning to meet the Green Community status. Lincoln, Scituate, and Lancaster are among the several towns that are actively developing solar farms on their landfills.
According to Kara McGuire Minar, Planning Board chairwoman, the 10.1-acre town-owned Transfer Station parcel was a viable site because it was under town control and offered the possibility of using electricity generated for town use. She described the site as desirably flat for construction with little impact on abutters or the environment. Any development there will be subject to regular Planning Board review and oversight.
