Oct. 28--The state Department of Public Utilities this week gave its approval to National Grid for a solar power-generating station on Hilldale Avenue.

The long-vacant 5-acre site is one of five solar farms to be built in Massachusetts. Haverhill's will be one of the largest.

"It is close to a distribution site (powerlines) and gets great sun," said Edward White Jr., vice president of Renewables for National Grid.

Ground was broken for the project on Oct. 6, but the utility company had to wait for DPU approval before moving forward.

National Grid hopes to begin construction sometime early next year.

White said he hopes the installation of the solar farm will create a market for solar panels, which will reduce the cost of installation of panels for homeowners.

White said a typical home will install three to four panels, while the solar farm will have 6,000 panels. The farm will produce 1,000 kilowatts or one megawatt (MW), more than double the largest existing farm in Massachusetts, White said.

"We are really excited about the project. You don't usually find a megawatt field," White said.

According to Deborah Drew, National Grid spokeswoman, the amount of solar power a 1 MW installation will generate varies depending on the site. Drew estimates that the solar power generated at the Haverhill facility will be enough to sustain the full electric needs of 175 homes for one year.

The installation in Haverhill is part of a 5 MW solar project that includes 4 other facilities in Massachusetts -- in Dorchester, Revere, Everett and Sutton -- and are all on company-owned property, Drew said.

Four of the five sites, including Haverhill, are "brownfield" locations and were selected because they have sufficient space, would be an acceptable use of the property given environmental restrictions and provide a nearby source of "green" electricity for consumers, Drew said.

"The installations also will create an opportunity for educating local schools and the public about on solar energy," Drew said.

White agrees.

"We can reach out to local schools and use the farm to teach how solar power is generated and used. People don't really see or hear about solar energy in the area but these larger systems are more noticeable. People can learn from them and get on board with the whole idea of solar energy," White said.

Mayor James Fiorentini said the solar farm creates a wonderful image for the city.

"This shows we are a forward-looking city that is clean and green. We are becoming a leader in green energy," Fiorentini said.

State Rep. Brian Dempsey said he used to get calls from residents wanting to put in a playground but because of legal issue with it being an old gas station site it wasn't possible.

"This, however, is a great use of the land," Dempsey said.

According to Drew, National Grid estimates that designing and building the five new solar sites will cost approximately $31 million. The company anticipates these solar installations would cost its Massachusetts customers approximately 6 cents per month averaged over the life of the project.

Proceeds from the energy sales, renewable energy certificates, or any environmental attributes that may be obtainable in the future will be credited to customers and offset the full cost of the solar installations, Drew said.

The solar program, the first to be implemented under the new Green Communities legislation, will help create green jobs within the state, deliver customer benefits and advance the solar industry, Drew said.

"Each installation moves us closer to a greener future in which we use cleaner electric power and reduce harmful emissions that contribute to global climate change," Drew said.

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