East Hodges in Norton May See Solar Facility

The Norton Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to put a new warrant on the 2013 town meeting to see if the town would allow a new solar facility.

Enfinity SPV has proposed the facility, which would be built on a 16-acre parcel off of 83 E. Hodges St.

Joseph Fitzptrick, a representative from Enfinity, said the company currently has five projects in Massachusetts. Two of those projects, located in Douglas and Uxbridge, are in operation. He said if the facility was built in Norton, it would generate $4.5 million in savings for the town over 20 years. The proposal would allow the town to draw power for its municipal energy needs, if the town agrees, and would also save the town $30,000 a year due to a payment in lieu of taxes program from the company.

Fitzpatrick said the project could be completed by the start of fiscal year 2014 in October, and added if the program goes forward, the town could see a savings of $150,000 by fiscal year 2015.

“I urge you to do a timely review of this so we can move forward with these,” Fitzpatrick said.

The savings as opposed to natural gas prices for the energy would be around 30 percent, depending on gas prices.

“Massachusetts is completely dependent on natural gas prices,” Fitzpatrick said.

The current estimates for savings for the town are based on natural gas price projections from October 2012, and in all likelihood could increase.

“By the time we’re in service we think this will deliver close to a 40 percent discount,” he said.

The solar panels, if completely tilted vertically, would reach a height of about six feet, and the property is entirely enclosed by trees.

“The tree line is essential and shrouds and encloses the site,” he said.

Fitzpatrick also said the shrouding of the facility would make it so the property values of the surrounding residents would not go down.