Chloe Shelford Apr 27, 2021
On April 26, the Planning Board approved plans for a solar farm to be built over an active cranberry bog owned by Brett Meredith.
Meredith’s farm straddles the Wareham-Carver border. He is hoping to install solar fields over 28 acres of his bogs in Wareham and additional solar over his bogs in Carver. The Carver Planning Board has already approved the plans.
The plan is based on a state program that incentivizes farmers to harvest solar energy in addition to their crops and which requires the land to continue to be actively farmed.
Because Meredith will continue to grow and harvest cranberries, the array is slightly unusual in its design and layout. Solar panels are further apart and significantly higher than is typical, and they are on special bases that allow them to tilt to follow the sun over the course of the day.
Wicked Local
CARVER – With no tree clearing proposed, the developer of a new 7.3-megawatt solar project on 33 acres in Carver and 77 acres in Wareham seeks approval from the planning boards of both towns.
The Carver Planning Board had few questions at the Feb. 23 public hearing for Be Re, LLC, requesting a special permit and site plan approval for 370 Tremont St. in Carver.
The owner, Brett Meredith, proposes to continue operating his cranberry bogs as part of this dual use ground-mounted solar project with battery storage, two in Carver and two in Wareham.
Sarah Stearns, an associate with the consulting firm Beals and Thomas, presented the project to the Planning Board. Two access points in Wareham lead to the base of operations. She said the bogs are set back quite a ways from the main road.