Other projects may slow proposed Rochester solar arrays down

Feb 25, 2020

ROCHESTER — The town Planning Board is set to review at least six solar projects this year, but those may be slowed by projects that are already in the works, including an over 55 housing project.

Five of those projects come from SunRaise, a NewHampshire-based solar company that came before the board in January to present the first of the projects.

Their proposal was for a 30 acre array split into two parcels (which total 100 acres) located on Braley Hill Road. SunRaise took care to set the project back from the road and screen it well from neighbors. The company also consulted with the Fire Department on the access road.

SunRaise will come back before the Planning Board on the original project on March 24. Representatives from the company also reached out to Town Planner Stephen Starrett to ask if it could bring four other solar arrays before the board for a preliminary review.

At a Feb. 25 meeting, Starrett described these projects as “in a row,” with entrances on Braley Hill Road, Featherbed Lane, Snipatuit Road and possibly Acushnet Road. The size of the other projects is unclear.

“They’re jumping at the bit to come before us,” Starrett said of the company.

However, complicating matters slightly is the fact that the town’s engineer has a huge workload right now, with a number of projects in the works.

The board hopes to make a final decision on a land swap between the Buzzards Bay Coalition and another solar company, Seaboard Solar, which is looking to develop a 30 acre array, and has agreed to give the environmental group 109 acres in exchange.

A final decision from the board, and a draft decision on an over 55 housing development at Plumb Corner would both require additional work from the town’s engineer, which may prevent SunRaise from making it through the public hearings on the projects it is so keen to finish.