Turtle's Presence Changes Solar Project

The presence of wood turtles has required a slight change of plan to a town solar panel project on Follette Street.

Wood turtles are a species of special concern in Massachusetts.

To accommodate the turtles, the shape of the land where the panels will be installed has been altered slightly, Richard McCarthy of Innovative Engineering Solutions told selectmen Tuesday night.

Fencing will also be raised off the ground to allow room for the turtles to travel.

The wood turtle is a medium-sized turtle, about 5 ½ inches long, with a sculpted shell and orange coloration on the legs and neck, according to information provide by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

They live in swampy areas, vernal pools, wet meadows and shallow marshes, according to Mass Wildlife.

Vernal pools and a rare orchid have also been found on the Follette Street site. The shape change will also accommodate the vernal pools. The orchid discovery falls outside the parameters of the project.

The town plans to install solar panels on a five-acre parcel of land at the ’s location on the Follette Street site.

Energy generated from these panels will be used by the town to offset energy costs. 

The panels are expected to generate about 1 megawatt of electricity per year, or about a third of the town’s electricity costs. The town uses an average of 3 megawatts each year.

The town’s annual savings will be approximately $70,000 a year, Town Administrator Timothy McInerney said.

Selectmen have signed a 25-year lease on the five-acre parcel. The panels will be installed by a private company at no cost to the town or the Water District.

To get posters about turtles and turtle conservation information, visit Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife at 1 Rabbit Hill Rd. in Westborough.