Bullard Solar Project Scaled Back

Developers behind the proposed for Bullard Street have reduced its scope and say the project now lies outside the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission. 

Larry Beales, the lead engineer on the project, told the Commission Tuesday night that the project had been reduced in size from 10,000 solar panels to 7,420 panels.

The solar field will now take up approximately 7.2 acres, down from approximatley 10 acres, and would be capable of generating 2 megawatts of electricity, down from 2.5 megawatts in the original proposal. 

The downsizing means the project can now be built entirely on land outside of the wetlands buffer zone, Beales said. 

After an initial meeting with the commission at which the solar project , "We went back and looked at all of our options," Beales said. 

Conservation Agent Charles Katuska said he would want to verify in the field that the assertions made in the revised plan are accurate. If so, and the work no longer requires the approval of the commission, a significant permitting hurdle will have been avoided. 

The project will likely still need a permit from the Planning Board for work done along Bullard St., which is a scenic road. In addition, the developers are working with the Board of Assessors to craft a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) payment plan to the town. over the 20-year life of the project. 

Katuska intends to visit the site with Beales as soon as possible. The project is due back before the Conservation Commission, possibly for withdrawal from consideration, on Oct. 18.  

Developers, including Cambridge-based Renewable Energy Massachusetts (REM), have said they hope to have the project permitted before the end of the year, in time to qualify for both federal and state tax incentives that are a key part of the financing for the project.