Bravo! NextSun Comes to Middleboro!

Middleboro restaurateur eyes solar farm project
By Alice C. Elwell
Enterprise Correspondent Posted Sep. 22, 2014
    


MIDDLEBORO – A restaurateur known for a string of establishments in Middleboro is moving into the solar-power business.

David T. Fisher is partnering with NextSun Energy, which aims to build a 2.5 megawatt solar farm in Middleboro. NextSun recently installed a 2.6 megawatt solar array in Rockland to supply 60 to 75 percent of the town’s municipal energy needs. The Middleboro project will produce about the same amount of energy, but the power will be sold to the town-owned utility.

Before he lights up the town, Fisher’s project has to jump a few hurdles. NextSun is seeking approval from town meeting to forgo personal property taxes in favor of a payment in lieu of taxes.

Assessor Barbara Erickson said NextSun is purposing a 20-year PILOT in order to fix the costs over the life of the solar farm. She estimated the $7.2 million project would generate about $1 million in personal property taxes over a 20-year period. Barring an override or a debt exclusion, Erickson doesn’t expect the town would lose any tax dollars if town meeting accepts a PILOT as a substitute for personal property taxes. “I have no problem as long as they pay the full tax,” she said.

Erickson said NextSun is proposing three solar fields, two on property owned by Fisher and his brother Gid on Purchase Street and a third at 81 River St., on property owned by Lorraine Truelson.

Amelia Tracy, spokeswoman for NextSun, declined to comment on the project, “It’s too early to talk about it.”

Fisher isn’t selling his land. “We want to keep our property.” Instead he’s renting a portion to NextSun for a solar farm. “It’s a good idea. It offsets the real estate taxes and at the same time promotes green energy. It helps keep open space.” Fisher didn’t disclose how much he’s making on the deal, but says, “It’s not a windfall.”


Fisher said the agreement with NextSun is subject to permitting, and that could be a major hurdle.

Town Manager Charles J. Cristello told selectmen earlier this month that state law does not allow municipalities to prohibit solar farms, however, Middleboro zoning does not allow solar farms.

“It’s going to come before us,” said Bruce Atwood, chairman of the appeals board. Atwood has not seen any plans from NextSun, and he’s not sure how the board would handle permitting. “I can’t answer that,” he said. Atwood said the zoning problem would be ironed out once NextSun applies for a hearing, “Then we’ll take it from there.”

Atwood fears solar farms would pop up willy-nilly all over town if the zoning glitch isn’t figured out.

And Fisher’s project could open the floodgates. Erickson, the town assessor, said New Bedford’s Beaumont Solar Co. is considering erecting a $2.1 million, 750 kilowatt solar farm at 291 Wareham St., which could generate over $700,000 in personal property taxes.

“Solar is good power,” said Sandra Richter, spokeswoman for the Middleboro Gas & Electric Department. Richter said peak energy use was nearly 65 megawatts at the utility this year. But Richter was in the dark about the NextSun project because the company has not met with utility officials to discuss selling the solar power they could generate.

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