BlueWave, a leading solar developer and owner in the Northeast U.S, has officially unveiled a brand-new assortment of projects to expand its agrivoltaics infrastructure, as well as deliver greater amount of clean energy at the disposal of Commonwealth. According to certain reports, these projects integrate the company’s innovative dual-use solar design and operate under the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program. Furthermore, located in Palmer, Haverhill, Dighton and Douglas, they are all set to add 19.8 MWDC of generation and 29.7 MWhr of storage to the power grid, which is directly equivalent of avoiding 13,000 tons in carbon emissions on an annual basis. More on the same would reveal how, as a part of this development, BlueWave worked alongside farmers to implement innovative dual-use practices that offer all parties impacted by the projects, including landowners, farmers, and surrounding community members, with significant benefits. Such collaboration, like you can guess, made it possible for farmers across the board to use their land to the fullest extent. Another detail worth a mention is rooted in the fact each of the newly-announced project is designed to allow for uninterrupted farming operations beneath the solar array. Apart from that, it must be mentioned how sites finalized for the given purpose feature a varied selection of crops and pollinator-friendly livestock grazing operations.
“Agrivoltaics provides a pathway for a clean, just energy transition, providing renewable energy in a way that uplifts agricultural operations, creates new opportunities for farmers, and enhances the resilience of rural communities,” said Nathan L’Etoile, from American Farmland Trust (AFT). “AFT is proud to be working with an elite few of energy developers, including BlueWave, who are investing in this solution, supporting farmers and landowners, and keeping Massachusetts’s precious farmland under production.”
Making the whole development even more significant is Lowell General Hospital, who linked-up with BlueWave to serve as an anchor customer for two project sites in Palmer and Haverhill. You see, the hospital’s contribution as an anchor customer enables low-income residents to engage in clean energy opportunities, specifically eliminating the financial barrier which has long remained associated with supporting n-state clean energy generation and lowering utility bills. As an anchor customer, Lowell General Hospital will receive 50% of the project’s energy capacity in the form of community solar bill credits, which can be applied to offset its operation’s costs and invest in sustainability projects, all while ensuring that the solar farm remains operational for the intended lifespan.
“Since 1891 when renewable hydropower was helping to grow Lowell into the advanced city that it is today Lowell General Hospital has served the Greater Lowell and surrounding communities with the mission of empowering people to live their best lives,” said Kevin Foley, Director of Plant Operations and Property at Lowell General Hospital. “As the anchor customer of a community solar project in partnership with BlueWave, we’re able to support our community while lowering costs by utilizing the latest in state-of-the-art renewable solar energy technology, both on and off our campuses.”
Among other things, we ought to mention that, by signing up for a community solar subscription, residents can lower their electricity costs, and at the same time, support a local solar farm. This is because, with the solar farm generating electricity, utilities would measure the amount produced and assign that energy a dollar value in the form of a solar credit. The stated solar credit can then be applied to subscribers’ monthly electricity bills, thus reducing their owed amount.
All the projects in BlueWave’s brand-new assortment of projects are expected to be operational by the end of 2024. Beyond that, though, the company is also working to develop projects both within the Commonwealth and in surrounding states. As of today, BlueWave has secured future solar project sites across 11 states, with nearly 500 MWDC solar in active development.
“As a Boston-based company and certified B Corp, serving our surrounding communities is in our DNA and continues to be the driving force behind the solar development decisions we make,” said Trevor Hardy, CEO and Co-Founder of BlueWave.
