PLAINFIELD — A month after Plainfield approved plans by a Boston-based company for a big solar array in town, another large firm based in the state’s capital has its eyes on the tiny hilltown.
Representatives from BlueWave Energy visited Town Hall last week to flesh out details for not one, but two solar arrays with battery storage systems they want to develop in town. An informational meeting on the developments attracted a couple dozen residents who overflowed the hall’s meeting space, with people lined up in the hallway and kitchen outside the room.
The largest of the two projects is called 20 East Street, named after its proposed location, according to BlueWave’s application filed with the Planning Board. The project calls for developing solar panels on 27 acres at the site, which would require cutting trees on 23 acres. The array would be a 6-megawatt system, or enough to power approximately 1,800 homes annually.
The smaller project is earmarked for an open field at 95 North Central, where about 5 acres of deforestation would take place. This development would be a 2.4-megawatt system producing energy for under 700 homes.
A key difference between the two plans is that the North Central development would feature an agrivoltaic system with raised panels to allow farming underneath, while the East Street location would have panels about 3-4 feet off the ground.
The property would be leased for the solar array for the lifespan of the panels, ranging from 25 to 30 years. BlueWave officials assured residents that the lease would remain in place regardless of whether the property is sold, and the space would not be abandoned, BlueWave representatives said.
BlueWave wants to negotiate with the town for payment in lieu of taxes, allowing them to have a set annual tax bill.
Unlike New Leaf Energy, which just received a special permit for a 67-acre solar development off North Union Street, BlueWave will own and operate the array throughout the project’s life. Construction would take three to six months.
Batteries for these types of systems are typically lithium-ion phosphate, said BlueWave’s Director of Project Development Marco Addonizio. He added that the firm would not provide the exact model to be used because technology is rapidly progressing. However, he told residents that BlueWave systems have fire suppression technology in case of a battery leak.
Addonizio said that in its 15 years in business, BlueWave has never had an issue with battery leaks.
During a Planning Board meeting immediately following the two-hour informational session, board members requested specifications for the battery systems. They also wanted more detail about potential ambient sound emanating from the array.
These details will be discussed at a public hearing about the project scheduled for Feb. 11.
Planning Board Chair Peter Lapointe ended the meeting on a cordial note: “We look forward to seeing you on the 11th.”
BlueWave has been undertaking solar projects since 2010 and currently has 56 solar projects in the Northeast. The Worthington Planning Board is also currently reviewing the company’s application to install 7,462 ground-mounted agrivoltaic panels in an open field at 190 Ridge Road.
Addonizio said that to his knowledge BlueWave is not looking to develop more arrays with battery storage units in town.
Abutters to the proposed projects in Plainfield, who declined to identify themselves at the meeting, raised numerous objections, including concerns about water runoff, property values, aesthetics and deforesting. One resident asked whether his home insurance would be impacted.
As has been the case since midsummer when the town began to be receive applications for solar developments, residents continued to voice their aversion to seeing their rural hamlet be overtaken with solar arrays.
The Planning Board is attempting to address these concerns by examining whether to revise bylaws to guide solar development in the town of 650 residents. On Feb. 4, the board will hold a meeting to discuss zoning recommendations. At the meeting will be Allison Gage from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to discuss potential regulatory changes in town.
