Guidance for Commercial-Scale Solar Projects
Guidance for Commercial-Scale Solar Power Projects
A zoning bylaw regulating solar projects was passed at a Special Town Meeting held on November 27, 2018 and is now in effect.
Link to New Solar Power Zoning Bylaw
In addition to a Special Permit, solar projects must also obtain Site Plan approval from the Planning Board. Please see the Planning Board's Site Plan Review Regulations for further guidance.
Link to Site Plan Review Regulations
Pollinators—such as bees, butterflies, and other insects—are critical to the success of about 35 percent of global food crop production. In order to thrive, pollinators must have a suitable habitat. Establishing pollinator-friendly plants under and around ground-mounted solar arrays has the potential to provide this critical habitat and benefit both the pollinators and nearby agriculture.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is working to better understand the economic, ecological, and performance impacts of co-locating pollinator habitat and solar arrays. This research is part of our broader agrivoltaics research, which studies how solar and agriculture can co-locate. More information can be found by clicking here.
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