Politics & Government

MBTA Solar Project Eyes Spring '13 Commissioning

The MBTA is planning to build more than 8,500 solar panels at the Readville Yard.

 

A once-contaminated field will soon produce electricity for the MBTA with a field full of solar panels at the former Readville Yard, a MBTA official said.

The cash-strapped MBTA plans to install more than 8,500 solar panels, each about 15 feet tall on the 21 acres of MBTA property that sits in Dedham, said Michael Donaghy, MBTA's manager of energy efficiency.

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Donaghy presented his plans at the April 12 Board of Selectmen meeting.

"The reason why we've identified this property for solar development is we aren't using it as much," said Donaghy. "There should not be any significant glaring that affects any of the abutters."

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Selectmen said the new plan to redevelop the rail yard is a major improvement over a previous plan to build almost 600 apartments. The MBTA still has plans to develop the Boston side of the yard with commercial properties.

The MBTA hopes to commission the panels by next spring.

Selectmen asked Donaghy to make the fencing around the solar panels aesthetically pleasing, instead of a basic fence with barbed wire.

A third-party company will bid on the project to build, own and maintain the site for 20 years, Donaghy said.

The MBTA will reap the benefits of the electricity - 2.48 million kWh - and hopes to save almost $2 million over the 20 years.

"What is advantageous for the MBTA is there are no upfront costs," Donaghy. "What we are trying to get is a low price of electricity."

The third-party company will receive valuable renewable energy tax credits, Donaghy said.

Dedham's Zoning Board of Appeals doesn't have a say over the use of the property as the MBTA is exempt from all local zoning laws.

The area was once found to have high levels of arsenic and lead. The MBTA announced last month that the problem has been fully remediated.

"The fact that you cleaned up everything is a big plus, because that could leak into the waters," said selectman Carmen Dello Iacono.


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