It took two years and one lawsuit filed against the town, but the owners of the town’s first solar garden are prepared to put the facility online soon.

Next spring, residents, businesses and non-profits throughout the tri-town and South Coast should be able to purchase electricity from the Sippican Community Solar Garden LLC, which will amount to significant savings over a 10-year span.

“This is an opportunity for people whose properties aren’t right for solar, whether there’s too much shading or the location doesn’t work, to become involved with renewable energy,” said Luke Hinkle founder of My Generation Energy, Inc. and Suntility Electric LLC.

The Brewster-based solar energy installation and development company will manage the garden, to be located on a 5.9-acre lot behind 512 County Road.

Property owners Dale and Laura Briggs started the process to begin construction in 2012. Their initial application to construct solar panels on the site was not approved by the Building Department. At the time, Building Inspector Scott Shippey said town bylaws only allowed for accessory use of a solar installation.

The Briggses went to the Zoning Board of Appeals in an attempt to overturn the decision, but were denied again. The couple then filed a lawsuit against the board.

In February 2013, a judge ruled in favor of the board provided its members define the term “light manufacturing” in a zoning bylaw. The bylaw prohibits light manufacturing – defined as, fabrication, assembly, processing, finishing work or packaging – in residential areas.

It was that language zoning board members identified as the reason to deny the couple’s request.

Since the Briggses first applied to start construction and the court decision, voters at Special Town Meeting approved a new version of the bylaw that regulates solar installations for commercial and private use.

Board members unanimously approved the project in August.

With 3,000 solar panels, the garden will produce a little less then one megawatt of electricity Hinkle said, noting that’s enough energy to power about 200 homes.

Marion’s solar garden will operate similarly to a My Generation Energy project that’s been ongoing for three years in Brewster.

“A lot of people are now aware of the Brewster Community Solar Garden,” Hinkle said. “We get a lot of questions about it and there seems to be this pent up demand for additional cooperative solar projects.”

Those who are eligible to participate in the project may purchase Sunrights, essentially an electric credit, for $5,000 each from Suntility Electric. Sunright holders are guaranteed to save $7,200 in utility costs over a period of 10 years.

On average, electric customers with a $100 monthly bill are set to receive a $60 credit on that bill.

And the Sippican Community Solar Garden isn’t the only cooperative project slated. Members of Marion's new Landfill Solar Evaluation Committee have been making progress to build solar arrays on the town landfill.

Hinkle said his company had recently responded to a request for proposal from the town for that work and was awarded the contract.

“That project is a little farther into the future,” he said, adding that garden will be used exclusively by Marion residents.

Informational sessions on community solar gardens will be held Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brewster Ladies Library in Brewster and Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the First Congregational Church in Falmouth.

For more information on the Sippican Community Garden, call 508-538-4786 or visit www.sippicancommunitysolargarden.com.