The installation of Western Massachusetts Electric Co.’s large-scale solar facility is on track. Ground was broken for this project in June and completion is scheduled to be in early fall. “The summer weather, the dry weather, has helped certainly,” said WMECO spokeswoman Sandra Ahearn. “It’s going, so far, according to plan.”
The location of the 1.8 megawatt solar project was chosen to be in Pittsfield, Massachusetts at the site of an old General Electric plant. The facility has been budgeted to cost between $10 and $12 million and has been projected to stretch over eight acres, the largest solar panel installation of its size in New England. The 6500-panel solar installation is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 300 homes.
The WMECO solar facility is made up of two parcels of land. The first, which is two acres managed by the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority, has completed its installation of solar panels. The second parcel made up of six acres that belongs to WMECO has just begun construction.
The project will not only diversify WMECO’s energy portfolio, but it will also raise $150,000 in tax revenue for Pittsfield. In addition, WMECO has learned that incorporating solar power into its portfolio will build jobs and show their commitment toward renewable energy.
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