Monson to Introduce Bylaw Amendments to Permit Commercial Solar Generation

The Town Planning Board of Monson Massachusetts is planning a public hearing on 21st September at its office building on Main Street to discuss a new zoning bylaw that will allow commercial solar production installations in certain areas of the town. The decision on the bylaw will be placed for a special meeting to be held on 18th October to enable the voters to voice their grievances.

Craig A. Sweitzer, Chairmain of the Planning Board, said the proposed meeting will help to simplify the process of solar power generation in the city. He added that the bylaw will be amended to allow solar power generation business in areas where the power lines crisscross the land and the generated power can be easily fed to the power lines. He commented that the proposed CornerStone solar construction will remain unnoticeable among the other houses near the site. He concluded saying that the proposed facility could generate around $400,000 extra income for the town in addition to bringing in new jobs by generating clean power.

CornerStone Power Development LLC, an Illinois- based company engaged in developing solar plants in United States, has submitted a plan to construct a 20 MW solar power plant on a 120 acre site at Macomber road. Daniel J. Somers, Principal of CornerStone, said that his company has chosen the place for its close proximity to the power grid. He added that his company is weighing the option of purchasing the property at 22 Macomber Road after ensuring that the transmission grid available nearby can accept the power generated by the solar farm.