Project Information
Abstract
Massachusetts plans to produce 1600 MW of renewable energy by 2020 to help combat climate change. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is supporting this goal by identifying unused waste-sites for photovoltaic (PV) system development. Our team used renewable energy viability software, site visits, stakeholder interviews, and MassDEP databases to determine that 43 of the 83 analyzed sites are potentially viable and sustainable for profitable PV development. We discovered that usable acreage and distance to transmissions lines are the primary factors determining if a site is potentially viable and sustainable. Further, a positive developer-community relationship is important to engage community support.
