Feb 18 2010
Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) announced that it has selected a site on Silver Lake Boulevard to install its first large-scale solar energy facility. The company had planned to develop several solar energy facilities. Pittsfield Economic Development Authority (PEDA) and WMECo own the combined two parcels of land at the William Stanley Business Park. Up to 1.8 MW capacity of solar facility can be installed in the eight-acre site.
Representatives from PEDA, WMECo officials, and local officials announced the agreement to combine these two land parcels, which will house one of the New England’s largest solar facilities. WMECo president and chief operating officer, Peter Clarke, said the company is pleased to be working with Pittsfield on this solar facility.
The goal of the Commonwealth is to have 250 MW of installed solar capacity by the year 2017. Each Massachusetts electric utility, under the Green Communities Act (GCA), may own solar generation up to 50 MW subject to the Department of Public Utilities’ (DPU) approval.
DPU has approved WMECo to install up to 6 MW solar. A close cooperation with important industry stakeholders and Attorney General's office made this solar program possible for the company.
A two-acre land parcel owned by PEDA and a six-acre land parcel owned by the utility is combined for the Silver Lake Boulevard project. A substation in between the two parcels is owned by WMECo, which makes it easier to connect to the local distribution system.
The local economy will be injected with $10-12M through this project and the city of Pittsfield is anticipated to earn more than $200,000 through property tax per annum because of this facility. WMECo has about 24,000 customers in this city. Permitting for the project is currently in progress and the company is expecting to commence construction in the second quarter of 2010.