<div dir="ltr">From MGL 40A Sec 3:<br><br>"No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the installation of solar energy systems or the <u>building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy</u>, <b>except where necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.</b>"<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Raleway,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"><br></span><br><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">The underlined text seems to imply that it is correct. However, the boldface text implies that Towns and Cities still have the right to deny a solar-energy project for good cause. Example: Clearcutting a mountain to install solar panels is not in the public welfare. Example: Putting giant batteries in the middle of a neighborhood that, if they caught fire, would pose a significant hazard to public safety (especially if the town doesn't have the apparatus to fight a fire in a giant lithium ion battery field), then you should be able to deny...<br><br>IMHO. YMMMV.<br><br></div><div dir="ltr">Douglas Finn, Administrative Assistant<br>Edgartown Planning Board<div>70 Main Street, PO Box 5130<br>Edgartown, MA 02539</div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">508-627-6170<br></span><a href="mailto:dfinn@edgartown-ma.us" target="_blank">dfinn@edgartown-ma.us</a><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 2:11 PM Buck, Michelle <<a href="mailto:BuckM@leicesterma.org">BuckM@leicesterma.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Leicester has received a zoning interpretation request from a company arguing that a free-standing battery energy storage system (ESS) could be allowed as a “solar energy system” as it will store energy produce from solar projects elsewhere.
Though we have many ground-mounted solar facilities in Leicester, so far they’ve only had minor ancillary battery storage (on-site).
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How have other communities handled permitting of free-standing battery storage facilities? My initial thought is that it’s an entirely new use and we’d have to amend our bylaw to allow, but I’d like to know how other communities have addressed
this. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michelle<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michelle R. Buck, AICP<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Leicester Town Planner/Director of Inspectional Services<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">508-892-7007<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:buckm@leicesterma.org" target="_blank">buckm@leicesterma.org</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9pt">Please note that Leicester Town Hall is closed on Fridays.<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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