Recently, we were contacted by Omni Navitas — a solar development company interested in leasing some of our farmland for a commercial solar array. While the terms are very attractive and we’re pleased as punch at the prospect of more solar companies coming to western Massachusetts, we’re going to turn them down.
Taking rich bottom land out of agricultural production is not the highest and best use of that land — for any reason. But in the eastern part of the state, Omni Navitas is doing interesting work with the air space above parking lots and parking garages. Our rural region may not be rich in parking garages, but we do have parking lots and school roofs.
It might be worth the while of some school districts to see if their buildings or parking lots would be good locations for solar arrays. If you want to see how cleverly solar panels can function as carports while generating energy, just see what was done with the old school building on Allen Street in Greenfield.
Dale C. Moss
Shelburne Falls