2021-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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9. Utility Notification: Evidence that the utility (b) Disposal of all solid and hazardous waste company that operates the electrical grid where in accordance with local, state and federal a grid-intertie solar energy system is to be waste disposal regulations. located has been informed of the system owner or operator's intent to install an interconnected (c) Stabilization or re-vegetation of the site as facility and acknowledges receipt of such necessary to minimize erosion. The notification, and a copy of an Interconnection Planning Board may allow landscaping or Application filed with the utility including a below-grade foundations left in situ in one or three line electrical diagram detailing order to minimize erosion and disturbance the solar electric installation, associated of the site. components, and electrical interconnection methods, with all Massachusetts Electrical (d) Description of financial surety for Code (527 CMR§ 12.00) compliant decommissioning: Proponents of ground- disconnects and overcurrent devices. Off-grid mounted solar energy systems shall solar energy systems shall be exempt from this provide a form of surety, either through requirement. escrow account, bond or other form of surety approved by the Planning Board to 10. Documentation of the major system cover the cost of removal in the event the components to be used, including the electric Town must remove the installation and generating components, battery or other remediate the landscape,in an amount and electric storage systems,transmission systems, form determined to be commercially mounting system, inverter, etc. reasonable by the Planning Board, but in no event to exceed more than 125 percent 11. Preliminary Operation and Maintenance Plan of the cost of removal and compliance with for the solar energy system, which shall the additional requirements set forth include measures for maintaining safe access herein, as determined by the project to the installation, storm water management, proponent and the Town. Such surety will vegetation controls,and general procedures for not be required for municipal or state- operational maintenance of the installation. owned facilities. The project proponent shall submit a fully inclusive estimate of 12. Abandonment and Decommissioning Plan: the costs associated with removal,prepared Any ground-mounted solar energy system by a qualified engineer. The amount shall which has reached the end of its useful life or include a mechanism for calculating has been abandoned (i.e., when it fails to increased removal costs due to inflation. operate for more than one year without the written consent of the Planning Board)shall be (e) It shall be a condition of any special permit removed. The owner or operator shall that all legal documents required to enable physically remove the installation within 150 the Town to exercise its rights and days of abandonment or the proposed date of responsibilities under the plan to decommissioning. The owner or operator shall decommission the site, enter the property notify the Planning Board by certified mail of and physically remove the installation shall the proposed date of discontinued operations be provided prior to the issuance of a and plans for removal. The Abandonment and building permit. Decommissioning Plan shall include a detailed description of how all of the following will be F. Required Performance Standards: Small, addressed: Medium and Large Scale Solar Energy Systems (a) Physical removal of all structures; 1. Visual Impact Mitigation: The site plan for a equipment, building, security barriers and ground-mounted solar energy system shall be transmission lines from the site, including designated to screen the array to the maximum any materials used to limit vegetation. extent practicable year round from adjacent properties in residential use and from all roadways. 80