Happy Hollow Community Solar + Storage Farm
Massachusetts’ largest community solar-plus-storage farm has completed construction and is nearing subscriber completion. The 7.1-MW Happy Hollow Community Solar + Storage Farm is built on a gravel pit in Winchendon, Massachusetts and includes a 3.3-MW energy storage system. The project is owned by SunRaise Investments, developed and constructed by Borrego Solar with CleanChoice Energy managing subscriber services including acquisition, management, customer care, billing and retention.
“We’re proud to be part of this innovative community solar-plus-storage farm. This project provides people the opportunity to support clean energy innovation, while reducing their climate impact and saving money on their energy bills,” said Tom Matzzie, CEO of CleanChoice Energy. “Massachusetts continues to be a clean energy leader and this solar farm is a prime example of that leadership delivering benefits to the community.”
“SunRaise is excited to bring the benefits of solar energy to hundreds of community members and to utilize one of the first large scale solar plus storage systems in New England,” said Pat Jackson, senior VP of business development at SunRaise.
Community solar offers landowners the opportunity to receive additional revenue by leasing their land for solar, while opening the benefits of solar to the hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents that either do not own their own home or do not have a roof that works for solar. The subscribers for this Community Solar Farm can see up to a 10% savings on their utility bills with no upfront investment, setup fees or installation.
Borrego Solar developed, engineered and constructed the project, while SunRaise secured the construction and permanent financing and will remain the long-term owner and operator of the facility. The project is expected to generate 9,000,000 kWh of electricity each year, which is enough energy to power 1,200 average Massachusetts homes for a year.
The CleanChoice Energy Community Solar platform connects people to local community solar projects, allowing residents and businesses to sign-up to support local solar in minutes. Interested residents can sign-up at: https://go.cleanchoiceenergy.com/community-solar-in-ma/
News item from CleanChoice Energy
How many acres does this solar farm cover?
Hi, I’m on here investigating just that point (whether Happy Hollow / SunRaise Invests / Borrengo etc are creating solar farms by clear cutting forests or not. I was just about to sign up with Clean Choice Energy – – but a couple of things have thrown me. But the MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE for me is that SOLAR SHOULD NEVER COME FROM CLEAR CUTTING FORESTS ! COMPLETELY UNDOES THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF SOLAR ! Do these companies have this awareness / hold such values, and guarantee their truth in it ???
I understand that the above (Happy Hollow Road Solar 1) was placed on a gravel pit. BUT – – IF ANY OTHER projects by any of the above is clear cutting for solar, than i want no part of it.
Otherwise – i fully support solar – IF it is done WITHOUT CLEAR CUTTING.
Open space land is highly important too !
Solar belongs covering parking lots and on rooftops (commercial rooftops for this sort of project). I’m going to have to decline with my process until I am fully confident of such. Wishing us all ethical living and well being ! Sincerely, Marilyn O’Neil
Hi Kesley
My name is Peter and I’m a computer supporter for environmental causes. I’ve recently saw a post on Deviantart from someone using this picture of the project. This post was likely on Facebook at some point, but I don’t know when and I’m very concerned about this.
The post is claiming that large acres of forrests have been cleared to construct these solar panels. Can you offer a comment on this?
If you want to talk to me about it I can give you my email address.
Yours sincerely
Peter Watson
The solar farm was built on a former gravel pit, so those trees were already gone before the solar was installed.