Colin
Durrant (EOT), 617-973-7870
Erin
McNeill (Sen. Pacheco), 617-993-3139
Would Be First Solar Array
Along
Carver,
MA --
Marking a critical step forward in Carver’s plans for a solar panel project
along Route 44, the Patrick Administration transportation officials have
approved a request from the town for a 25-year easement over 1.26 acres of
Commonwealth-owned land. The purpose
of the easement is to allow the town to erect a 112 kilowatt photovoltaic array
along the state highway to power town water supply wells. This will be the first
project of its kind in
“Our
transportation system should be acting responsibly to promote clean energy and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible,” said Transportation
Secretary James Aloisi. “We want our highways and roads to be as green as they
can be, and this agreement with the Town of
Senator
Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) will announce the easement at 7:00 p.m. today at a
community forum on the North Carver Municipal Water Project at
The
solar PV system is part of an overall water supply development project intended
to promote economic development on land near the new Route 44 / Route 58
interchange. The solar power system will consist of about 11,200 square feet of
silicon panels arranged in rows, covering about 25,000 square feet of the
embankment along the highway.
The
system is sized to match the electric demand of the new water supply system –
several drilled wells, pumps and related treatment facilities – of 140,000
kilowatt hours per year. The preliminary cost estimate for the solar
installation is $950,000, according to Glen A. Berkowitz, of Beaufort Power LLC,
the solar project developer. The remainder of the easement area is designated
for future expansion of generating capacity.
“We
are absolutely thrilled with the prospect of having this exciting project move
forward in town,” said Jack Hunter, Carver’s director of planning and
community development. “This announcement is just another layer of good news
on top of what is going to be an overall beneficial project for the town.”
In
exchange for the easement approved earlier this week by Secretary Aloisi and
MassHighway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky, the town has agreed to perform
landscape maintenance as well as litter and vegetation control from the easement
area to the Route 58 interchange. The town will also install security fencing to
protect the area from encroachment by dirt bikes and vandalism. The town has
agreed to share the system if it is expanded or if a review of revenue or power
generation shows a capacity beyond the initial estimates.
The
temporary easement is subject to Federal Highway Administration review and
approval.
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