Plymouth Approves Solar Projects to Generate Millions in Savings and Revenue

Select Board gives green light to installations at multiple locations, including carports and landfill site

PLYMOUTH, MA - October 22 - The Plymouth Select Board unanimously approved solar projects at multiple town locations October 22 expected to generate between $5.3 million and $10.2 million in savings and revenue over 20 years.

The projects, presented by Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Planner Michael Cahill and consulting engineer Adam Teft, include solar carports at four sites and a solar array at the Cedarville Landfill.

"This project that we're going to discuss tonight is within the buildings, energy, and infrastructure section of the plan," Cahill said. "It's directly aligned with Action BEI 2.2a, identifying opportunities for microgrids and energy storage at critical facilities in town."

The approved locations for solar carports are Plymouth Public Library, Department of Public Works Headquarters, Plymouth South High School (including Plymouth South Middle School), and Plymouth North High School. A rooftop solar installation is planned for 22 Mary B. Lane at the DPW Headquarters.

The Cedarville Landfill project will operate under a lease agreement, with the town receiving annual payments from the vendor.

"We're expecting somewhere between $135,500 and $195,000 annually in lease payments from this vendor to have this location set up on site," Cahill explained.

Teft detailed the financial structure of the projects, describing them as power purchase agreements (PPAs) where the selected vendor will build, own, and operate the assets. The town and schools will purchase power at a set price for 20 years.

"The basic idea is that the vendor that's selected from the process will come in, build, own, operate these assets, and Town of Plymouth and Plymouth Public Schools will simply buy the power at a set price for 20 years under that arrangement," Teft said.

The projects are expected to begin construction between January and June 2026, with earlier steps including contract execution, Eversource interconnection submissions, and state applications.

Select Board member John Mahoney praised the presentation and the potential benefits for Plymouth.

"To see where that I couldn't have envisioned, maybe you could have, but a decade or so ago, where the spire is today in year 11, we're currently in year 11, you just celebrated the 10th. Year over year, building attendance, tens of thousands of people coming into this phenomenal structure," Mahoney said.

In other business, several residents presented a petition with over 1,200 signatures urging the Select Board to implement a moratorium on sand mining in Plymouth.

Aaron Keaton, an environmental researcher with the Community Land and Water Coalition, cited concerns about the impact of sand mining on local ecosystems and water resources.

"We have a sole source aquifer and this is the sand that protects it. So our drinking water is at risk and it's not only a threat, you know, I have met people personally who their wells are contaminated and their neighbors are scared that their well is going to get contaminated," Keaton said.

Catherine Harrelson, also with the coalition, presented slides showing the extent of sand mining in southeastern Massachusetts.

"We have calculated over a thousand acres in southeastern Massachusetts have been lost. A thousand acres of forests have been lost when sand mining permits are handed out," Harrelson stated.

Town Manager Derek Brindisi responded to the sand mining concerns, stating that currently only one active gravel removal project is taking place in Plymouth.

"The problem that was presented, I don't think is quite severe as they'd like us to believe," Brindisi said.

The Select Board did not take any immediate action on the sand mining petition but acknowledged the concerns raised by residents.