New Municipal-Owned Solar Farm in Massachusetts, but More Obstacles Ahead
Orlando Pacheco, the town administrator for Lancaster, Massachusetts, has something to boast about. He has established the first municipal-owned solar farm in the central region of the state, expected to produce 610,000 kilowatts of energy every year. However, the process — even in Massachusetts — is unexpectedly difficult. Shared energy concerns compete with residents’ personal ones about land and property values, particularly as the production of solar energy evolves and moves to a larger, megawatt scale. For more, please see “Hot Markets, Cool Reactions,” which explains the benefits of and obstacles to these sorts of solar projects.