Present permitting for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic System installations are issued under zoning guidelines for garden sheds?

A copy of the Citizens Comment made to the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct 5 was obtained after the meeting and shared here:


Dear Council Members and Officials,

Solar Photovoltaic Systems and other sustainability based energy solution are key components of our future. However, their installation and placement needs to be carefully managed for safety and the community characteristics Franklin offers its residents.

Present permitting for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic System installations are issued under zoning guidelines for garden sheds? This according to my conversations with Building Commissioner- Lloyd Brown, when discussing a 40-Solar Panel Ground Mounted installation at 42 Prospect Street. The installation is on the side lot of 42 Prospect Street, Franklin's first designated scenic road, the lot borders my property. Under the garden shed guidelines no screening from the road is required nor protective fencing is necessary for safety to shield children and others from accessing the energized electrical components.

completed installation

The 40-Solar Panel Ground Mounted installation at 42 Prospect Street was complete weeks ago and signed-off by the inspections and building department. Now all of a sudden the panels were removed, stacked neatly and modifications are being made? Possibly to add more panels? I have contacted the inspections and building department who indicated no work should be taking place but the work continues?

left: rework underway; right: before installation

I urge the council, zoning board and town officials to consider specific zoning and permitting guidelines for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems that include; Solar panel quantity limitations, screening and setback requirements from roads and adjoining properties along with safety measures to protect children and others from accessing the electrified components.

I also encourage each of you to visit the 42 Prospect Street installation to understand the full impact undefined Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems permitting guidelines are having on our community.

Sincerely,

Michael Swetz

Governor Baker Signs Comprehensive Solar Legislation into Law

Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito were joined by a bipartisan group of legislators to sign solar legislation into law to continue the expansion of the Commonwealth’s solar industry and establish a long-term framework for sustainable solar development in our state. The bill, An Act Relative to Solar Energy, passed both legislative chambers with overwhelming support and achieves the Baker-Polito Administration’s goal of reducing costs to ratepayers while strengthening the state’s clean energy economy and progressing towards the greenhouse gas reduction requirements set forth under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA). 

“This legislation builds upon the continued success of the Commonwealth’s solar industry and ensures a viable, sustainable and affordable solar market at a lower cost to ratepayers,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “As our administration continues its balanced approach to diversifying Massachusetts’ energy portfolio, solar development will be an integral component of our state’s clean energy future and we look forward to collaborating with the legislature on an omnibus energy bill that includes cost-effective, hydropower generation.”

You can read the full press release here
http://www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-releases/fy2016/governor-signs-comprehensive-solar-legislation-into-law.html

You can find the legislative document here
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S1979

Commonwealth of MA

In the News: solar funding announced, Santa Skate Sunday

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The Baker-Polito administration announced the launch of a $30 million residential solar loan program on Thursday. 

The program will support Massachusetts lenders with loans between $3,000 and $60,000 with low, fixed interest rates to homeowners throughout the commonwealth who opt to add solar panels to their home and is also available to borrowers with lower credit scores or incomes. For homeowners who adopt solar energy, the program also provides long-term financing options.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151217/NEWS/151216352/1994/NEWS

The Franklin Youth Hockey Association will hold Santa Skate from 6:10 to 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at Pirelli Veteran's Arena, 910 Panther Way. 

All ages are welcome to skate and take photos with Santa. Admission costs $5 or a small bag of nonperishable food items to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. 

Attendees are also asked to bring any unused equipment to donate to FYHA. 

The event will include raffles, team spirit packs and calendar sales. 

For more information, visit the event's page on Facebook.

FYHA event

Franklin Solar Challenge: SolarFlair hits Tier 6!

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The Franklin Solar Challenge has reached Tier 6! Thank you Franklin residents for all the great support, without your help we could not have reached this important goal. SolarFlair has contracted 52 projects totaling 411 kW, and we hope many more will sign up before the October 15th deadline. SolarFlair will be donating a 20 panel system to a local Non-Profit Organization in Franklin. After this system is installed, SolarFlair will have donated a total of 20 kW across 4 Massachusetts communities! Great Work Everyone! 190 Pleasant Street  *  Ashland, MA  *  01721 www.solarflair.com  *  Phone 508-293-4293  *  Fax 508-293-4003

Forward this email SolarFlair Energy Inc | 190 Pleasant Street | Ashland | MA | 01721

In the News: GMO food labeling law, Tri-County kids group, cub scouting registration, Solar Challenge extended

Before eating an ear of sweet corn on the cob or opening a package of cookies from the grocery store, do you want to know if it contains genetically modified organisms? 

With science now allowing for crops to be genetically manipulated to better tolerate herbicides and produce their own insecticides, a growing group of advocates and legislators want to let consumers know if there are GMOs in their food. 

The group Citizens for GMO Labeling is gearing up for a big hearing at the Statehouse next Tuesday on a bill that 75 percent of the Legislature is co-sponsoring.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150917086/1994/NEWS

The Tri-County Regional Children’s Center, 147 Pond St., seeks to fill openings in its weekly toddler playgroup. 

The Toddler Program is open to children who are between 18 months and 30 months by Oct. 1. 

Sessions are held on Mondays from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Parents or caregivers are required to stay during the toddler session. The cost of the Toddler Program is $8 per week.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150916839/1994/NEWS

Franklin Cub Scouts are now accepting registration for the 2015-2016 school year. Cub Scouts is for boys grades 1-5. 

A registration event to learn more about scouting and join in on some scouting activities is set for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2-4 p.m., at the King Street baseball field in Franklin. 

At 2 p.m. there will be a live entertainment event.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150915/NEWS/150917474/1994/NEWS

Officials announced this week that the Franklin Solar Challenge had been extended for a month to encourage as many residents as possible to sign up for solar systems. 

The challenge's original deadline was Tuesday, but it has been extended until Oct. 15. 

Town Councilor Brett Feldman, who coordinates the challenge, said he felt it was appropriate to extend the program given the interest. 

"We still have people thinking over existing proposals, so we wanted to give them more time," he said. "Also, when you're near a deadline, you start to get new interest, so we wanted to accommodate that."

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150916685/1994/NEWS

Franklin Solar Challenge: Program Extension!

Program Extended! You now have until Oct. 15th to receive the lowest tiered pricing in the Franklin Solar Challenge 47 Franklin residents are already saving approximately $2,350* off of the cost of their system at Tier 5 pricing. That means we have already contracted 381 kW. Let's keep it going and make it to Tier 6 (400 kW) Only 19 kW to go! *based on an average 5 kW system SolarFlair will donate a 5 kW system in Franklin when we reach Tier 6! Take advantage of tiered pricing while you still can! If you have already signed a contract remind your friends and neighbors of the deadline.  If you've already had a site assessment and are still considering solar energy, please contact your sales representative to get your questions answered and a contract signed by October 15! Residents in Franklin are already taking advantage and saving on prices 25-35% below market value! click here to sign up for a FREE site assessment SolarFlair Energy Inc 190 Pleasant Street Ashland, Massachusetts 01721 franklinsolar@solarflair.com 508-293-4293

Forward this email SolarFlair Energy Inc | 190 Pleasant Street | Ashland | MA | 01721

In the News: Medway considering joining SAFE, Solar Challenge coming to an end

The Board of Health, which currently has a member belonging to SAFE Community Coalition, hopes to solicit community members to join the coalition, which seeks to solve the statewide heroin epidemic. 

At Monday’s meeting, Board of Health member Jordan Warnick said Rep. Jeff Roy, D-Franklin, asked him to be on the Support for Addicts and Families by Empowerment (SAFE) Community Coalition to “help bring Medway into it.” 

“We’re trying to forge a relationship with Franklin,” Warnick said. “Alone, we can’t do it.”

Continue reading about Eco Embrace here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150810/NEWS/150819440/1994/NEWS

Local officials are encouraging town residents to participate in the Franklin Solar Challenge before the program's Sept. 15 deadline. 

Town Councilor Brett Feldman, who coordinates the challenge, said it was based on the state Clean Energy Center's Solarize Massachusetts program, which offers increasing discounts on solar panels as more and more townspeople use them. 

"It's based off that, but we did our own to maintain flexibility," he said, noting that such flexibility allowed the town to run its program over a longer time frame. "It started a year ago, and it will end in September."

Franklin Solar Challenge

Continue reading about Eco Embrace here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150811/NEWS/150819510/1994/NEWS

Franklin Solar Challenge: the last Open House is scheduled for July 18th 11AM-3PM

Now is the time to go solar!

The Franklin Solar Challenge is in Tier 5 pricing!

SolarFlair Energy, the selected installer for the Franklin Solar Challenge, will be holding the last open house this Saturday. Food and soft drinks will be provided, with SolarFlair representatives on hand to answer your questions. 

The Open House is scheduled for July 18th 11AM-3PM.

• Prewitt Residence 
• 17 Sunset Rd. 
• Franklin, MA

Franklin Solar Challenge

"the school will receive solar credits"

Tri-County is waiting until students return in the fall before celebrating the completion of a new solar farm that will provide 85 percent of its electricity. 

Sometime after classes resume in September, the school will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to christen its 1.3-megawatt solar farm. Nearly finished, the solar array is set to save the school about $1.8 million on energy costs over the next 20 years and will serve as a four-acre lab, allowing students to study the technology behind solar power. 

“Since this is an area of study for our engineering technology students, we decided to hold off until they are back in school so that they can learn more about the solar array during the ceremony,” said Tri-county spokeswoman Jessica Silva.

Tri-County website header

Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150716/NEWS/150717172/1994/NEWS

Franklin Solar Challenge hits Tier 5 pricing! (the lowest discounts available)

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Dear Franklin Resident,   Great news!  The Franklin Solar Challenge has officially hit Tier 5 pricing, the lowest pricing available in the program. SolarFlair Energy, the selected installer for the Franklin Solar Challenge, is offering  discounted solar panels  to Franklin residences and businesses for a limited time. Homes that have minimal tree shading will have a return on investment in just 5 years! We also offer $0 money down options, where you pay nothing upfront and lock in your electric rate for 20 years. Don't let this special offer and great investment go to waste, now is the time to schedule a free site assessment!  To schedule an assessment, please call 508-808-4424 or send SolarFlair an email at FranklinSolar@SolarFlair.com 190 Pleasant Street  *  Ashland, MA  *  01721 www.solarflair.com  *  Phone 508-808-4424  *  Fax 508-293-4003

Forward this email SolarFlair Energy Inc | 190 Pleasant Street | Ashland | MA | 01721