Owner David Friel is working with Amp Energy, a global renewable energy developer, to lease the East Falmouth, Mass. property. Zoning changes are needed before the proposed project can go forward and attorney Robert Ament reminded the Board of the city’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions, noting the farm could power up to 6,000 homes.
Cape Cod Country Club in East Falmouth, Mass. may become a solar farm, The Falmouth Enterprise reported. Owner David Friel is working with Amp Energy, a global renewable energy developer, on leasing the land.
Zoning changes are needed before the proposed project can go forward, The Enterprise reported. Town Meeting will vote on those changes at an April Town Meeting. If the articles pass, it could result in one of the largest solar arrays on Cape Cod and the largest in Falmouth.
The proposed zoning changes are up for public discussion at a scheduled planning board hearing on February 23, The Enterprise reported. Evan Turner, a consultant for Amp Energy, estimates the ground-mounted arrays would be built in 2023, after receiving town permits and approval from the Cape Cod Commission. Until then, it would remain open for golf, he said.
Turner and attorney Robert Ament laid out the proposal for the planning board in December, The Enterprise reported.
“Unfortunately, golf clubs are not as good of money-makers today as they used to be, and the owner is at the point he wants to sell or do something else with the property,” Ament told board members at the December 22 meeting. “Mr. Friel explored other options including building residential development on-site, but would rather go this route.”
Ament said the solar farm would benefit the town and the environment. Amp Energy is prepared to donate seven acres of land for conservation purposes, The Enterprise reported. He also reminded the board of Falmouth’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions, noting the farm could power up to 6,000 homes.
The site is mostly surrounded by town conservation land and Coonamessett Pond, The Enterprise reported. It is zoned for agriculture with the exception of eight acres that are zoned Business 3 from when the Cape Cod Playhouse was on the site.
The course consists of four parcels. Turner said Amp Energy is interested in leasing three of them, and possibly purchasing the fourth seven-acre plot, currently the fourth hole, for conservation mitigation, The Enterprise reported. To build the project as proposed, zoning changes are required.
The property would need to be rezoned to the solar overlay district, which allows solar structures in the zone to be put “by right” without special permitting, The Enterprise reported. In the zone, projects have to be built on disturbed land with a provision limiting tree clearing to two acres per lot, no matter the lot size.
Turner told the planning board he wants to remove 20 acres of trees that are in the middle of the property in between fairways, The Enterprise reported. Removing them allows for more arrays and reduces shade, he said. Since the project is spread over three parcels, the removal of six acres of trees is permissible under the current bylaw.
He proposes mitigating the removal by planting 15 acres of trees near public ways and next to the homes the property abuts, The Enterprise reported. Ament proposed reducing the 100-foot setback law when the property is next to conservation land, saying the buffer is meant to protect neighbors on abutting property. If the changes occur, Turner estimates doubling the project output from 15 megawatts to 30.
“The bylaw changes would mean a better project producing more energy, and for the neighbors. A bigger budget would mean more money for landscaping and screening for the neighbors,” Turner said.
Turner said the property is desirable for its size and for its location surrounded by conservation land with only seven or eight abutters, The Enterprise reported. Giving assurances to the board, he said he is committed to continue working with the neighbors.
“This is a big project. We’re not going to cheap out on how much we spend to make the project fit the community in the best way,” he said.
C+RB recently reported at solar projects at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo, Calif. and Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, Calif.
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