IntroductionWhat are you willing to give up in exchange for more affordable housing and more clean energy? The two pieces of legislation signed into law in 2024 are not win/win; they are trade-offs.In the new laws, the Commonwealth sets two goals: creating more affordable housing (65,000 units over five years) and, by creating more renewable energy as quickly as possible, drastically reducing greenhouse emissions (50 percent by 2030; net zero by 2050). Laudable goals, and while we may all agree in principle, the devil, as they say, is in the details.The new laws seek to grease the wheels and remove obstacles. What are the obstacles? That would be us—we and our local bylaws. So the question is, how much local control are we willing to give away to accomplish the goals? The underlying question is, do we still have the ability to decide, or do the two laws mandate loss of control? Do we want to accede or fight the new laws?Climate and Clean Energy BillThis is development. The developer (the Commonwealth) is providing the money to build and install wind turbines, solar panels, battery storage facilities, electric substations, and power lines. The new law includes nuclear fission as renewable energy—that is, splitting atoms to create energy (all nuclear power plants use nuclear fission).In any discussion of development, the point of debate will always be the same: meeting the goal versus alteration of the landscape. The developer (the Commonwealth) wants to know the number of solar panels needed to reach its goal and where they can be built.To reach its goal, the Healey-Driscoll administration projected that it would build about 27,000 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity by 2050. Further, it is expected most of that will be ground-mounted solar.A “regular” solar panel is 200 watts. One megawatt is 1 million watts, so 5,000 panels to generate one megawatt; generating 27,000 MW requires a lot of solar panels. Where are you going to put them? In addition, the state estimates they need 24,000 MW of wind turbines, most of which are expected to be built offshore. Our incoming president expressed a wish to stop offshore projects. If he follows through, then the Commonwealth must increase onshore wind or increase the number of solar panels. Again, where?A map recently commissioned by the state shows potential for wind turbines and solar panels. Berkshire County is not first; it is second, behind Worcester County. Although our county is smaller than Worcester County, the map shows Berkshire County potentially hosting a disproportionately greater amount of the needed—perhaps as much as 15 percent of the landmass of Berkshire County.View the map here.We must consider: What is the acceptable loss of forestlands and wetlands, and what is the acceptable density of “green” energy producers? That is the battleground; that is the point of negotiation. Or is it?Under the new law, for projects smaller than 25 MW, towns must issue a single permit within 12 mon
Dom. Gen 12th, 2025
