Main Street Power Company Inc., in partnership with MS Solar Solutions Corp., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, today announced the completion of a 2.5-MW solar project on a brownfield site in Stow, Mass. The conversion of the Massachusetts DEP-monitored brownfield site into a productive, energy-generating resource supports the state’s solar siting priorities while keeping energy costs low for local residents.
The solar facility is located on a leased 12-acre parcel of land and was constructed in less than four months by solar EPC firm Gehrlicher Solar America Corp. Gehrlicher maintains an active sales and engineering office in Boston and utilizes local labor for its projects in Massachusetts. The project is owned and operated by Main Street Power. “Our mission is to deliver affordable solar energy to mainstream America through ownership and operation of distributed generation projects,” stated Amory Host, CEO of Main Street Power. He added, “The environmental and local participation in this sustainable land use project make it a perfect fit for our portfolio.”
During the first year of operation, the 8,769-panel facility is expected to generate enough energy to offset the annual electricity use of 300 typical U.S. residences. The local utility, Hudson Light & Power Department (HLPD), signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Main Street Power to purchase 100% of the generated energy at a favorable rate that allows HLPD to maintain long-term, attractive energy rates for their service area.
Project developers Syncarpha Solar LLC and Renewable Energy Massachusetts LLC (REM) led the site identification and lease negotiations with the property owner, permitting efforts with the Town of Stow, and energy contracting with HLPD. Cliff Chapman, Managing Partner at Syncarpha Solar, stated, “We are thrilled to be a part of this successful brownfield solar project. Syncarpha believes that EPA-monitored brownfield sites are perfect fits for solar, transforming virtually un-useable land into a clean power generator. The property owner, the Town of Stow and the local utility will all benefit from both the power and revenues generated by the project.”
Bob Knowles, Managing Director of REM stated, “We knew that this brownfield site directly adjacent to the local grid would be a perfect host site for a large solar energy facility.” He added, “It’s incredibly gratifying to see the facility quietly generating clean, affordable energy for the citizens of Stow and helping to accomplish the goals of the Commonwealth’s Green Communities Act passed back in 2008.”
— Solar Builder magazine
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