action to take today small town solar and battery moratorium. Senate vote tomorrow

[Janet Sinclair]

Hello all,

The Massachusetts Senate will vote tomorrow on the environmental bond bill, S.3050, “An Act to build 

resilience for Massachusetts communities,” also known as the “Mass Ready Act.”

 

 The session starts at 11:00  am. Watch here.

Please ask your state senator to co-spsonsor amendment # 178. Small Town Solar Moratorium submmitted by 

Senator Paul Mark. 

Your senator can be found by entering your address here.

Amendment ID: S3050-178

Amendment 178

Small Town Solar Moratorium

Mr. Mark moves that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after Section 83, the following section:-

“SECTION 83A. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any municipality with a population of fewer than 10,000 residents and a non-professional fire department shall be permitted to adopt a temporary moratorium on the use of land or structures for Industrial Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations and BESS, which shall not apply for residential installations. The moratorium shall be in effect for up to 24 months after the date the municipality adopts a moratorium in accordance with this section, or the date on which the municipality adopts amendments to the Zoning Bylaws concerning Industrial Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations and BESS, whichever occurs earlier. During the moratorium period, the municipality shall undertake a planning process to study, review, analyze, and address what revisions to the Zoning Bylaws relative to Industrial-Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations and BESS are needed or desirable to allow for and regulate such use consistent with applicable law while protecting the ecological resources, providing for local public safety preparedness, and furthering the planning goals of the municipality."