[Massplanners] large-scale solar array - requirement of agreement with municipality?

[Heidi Ricci]

The CPTC Conference on March 16th includes a workshop on solar bylaws

15. Community Planning for Solar – Case Law, Bylaw Approval, and Resources CM I 1.5
Register for Conference<https://masscptc.wufoo.com/forms/sajrvln172a528/>
Also, the UMass Clean Energy Center has extensive resources on their website:
www.ag.umass.edu/solarplanning<http://www.ag.umass.edu/solarplanning>  This toolkit has modules on solar financing and ownership options.
More resources here:  https://ag.umass.edu/clean-energy/resources/solar-pv/solar-resources-for-municipalities

Heidi

E. Heidi Ricci (she/her(s))
Director of Policy and Advocacy

Mass Audubon
208 S. Great Road, Lincoln, MA  01773
hricci at massaudubon.org<mailto:hricci at massaudubon.org> | 781-259-2172 or 781-622-8911 (cell)
massaudubon.org<http://www.massaudubon.org/>

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Barbara Carboni via MassPlanners
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 10:13 AM
To: Jeff Lacy <ruralplanningassociates at crocker.com>
Cc: massplanners at masscptc.org; massplanners-request at masscptc.org
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] large-scale solar array - requirement of agreement with municipality?

Jeff,
I’m working on that angle too, but regardless of intent, I’m curious what would be permissible today.
Barbara

Barbara Carboni  AICP
Truro Town Planner and Land Use Counsel
(508) 214 0928

From: Jeff Lacy <ruralplanningassociates at crocker.com<mailto:ruralplanningassociates at crocker.com>>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 9:57 AM
To: Barbara Carboni <bcarboni at truro-ma.gov<mailto:bcarboni at truro-ma.gov>>
Cc: massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>; massplanners-request at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-request at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] large-scale solar array - requirement of agreement with municipality?

Barbara:
Are the authors of the bylaw language still around so you can ask about the original intent of that requirement?
Jeff Lacy
Rural Planning Associates
(413) 230-9693

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 11, 2024, at 9:46 AM, Barbara Carboni via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:

Good morning all,

Truro’s Zoning Bylaw provides for permitting of “Large-Scale Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Arrays” with requirements for application materials, standards to meet, etc.  It also contains a requirement that is challenging to me: the definition for Large Scale Arrays includes the following language:

“All Large-Scale Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations shall be owned and operated by either the Town of Truro or under agreements with the Town of Truro.”

I’m trying to figure out the appropriate subjects for any such agreement, given that a special permit would contain an “array” of requirements and conditions. What would the Town (through the Select Board?) be negotiating with the owner, and what would be lawful for the Town to require that is above/beyond/outside of the permit process?    Is this a statutory requirement?

Does anyone have a similar provision in your large-scale solar bylaw?  I’m interested in if/how others have managed this requirement.

Thanks,
Barbara


Barbara Carboni  AICP
Truro Town Planner and Land Use Counsel
(508) 214 0928

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