WILLIAMSBURG — Town officials reacted positively to a solar developer agreeing to pay a more than $1 million settlement for damaging wetlands and polluting the Mill River.
Dynamic Energy Solutions LLC has agreed to pay $1.14 million to settle an April 2020 lawsuit filed by Attorney General Maura Healey’s office that alleged that the company disregarded pollution control requirements when constructing a solar array at the former sand and gravel pit on 103 Briar Hill Road.
“The town is very happy that the developer had to make restitution for the damage that was done,” said Town Administrator Charlene Nardi.
Nardi also expressed sadness that the violations, which affected about 97,000 square feet of protected wetlands and more than 41,000 feet of riverfront area, happened at all.
“Our hope is that we never have to have that happen again,” Nardi said.
The bottom of the West Branch of the Mill River was covered with the equivalent of more than an acre of sediment as a result of this 2018 construction. The 18.5-acre, 4-megawatt, 17,000-panel project has since been completed.
Marcianna Caplis, who chairs the Conservation Commission, said commissioners checked on the Dynamic Energy project through a routine site visit.
“When we saw what was going on, we immediately called DEP,” Caplis said, referring to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Caplis said that she is a supporter of solar, but that there’s been a rush to clear vegetation and put up solar arrays.
“We have to have trees and solar arrays,” she said.
There have been issues with other solar projects in Williamsburg, Caplis said, although not to the extent of the Dynamic Energy project. For several projects, an outside consultant brought in by the town found more wetlands on the sites than the applicant had identified, although in each case the applicant then updated their plans.
“But what if we hadn’t done that?” Caplis asked, referring to bringing in an outside consultant.
Charles Dudek, chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, participated in a Pioneer Valley Planning Commission work group that created a best practices guide for solar projects that was released last year.
Dudek said that being a part of the group was a “great experience” and that the guide will be useful to small communities.
“We tried to make the manual as all-inclusive as possible,” Dudek said.
Dudek also expressed satisfaction with the settlement.
“I’m glad to see that the process worked,” he said.
The manual provides information to municipalities on crafting bylaws and ordinances around solar energy, and provides sample language on topics ranging from environmental standards to site plans.
The manual has been forwarded to the Planning Board, and chair Amy Bisbee said that the board is in the process of reviewing it, although she noted that the board doesn’t know at this time whether or not it’ll be putting in any new regulations.
“We are certainly interested in looking at the recommendations,” she said.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.