Deal Signed With Solar Project

Westborough will earn about $100,000 annually over 20 years through a new deal involving the solar project at Harvey’s Farm, Town Manager Jim Malloy says.

Selectmen recently voted to authorize Malloy to sign a 20-year contract with Sun Ray Power LLC to buy the net metering credits generated by the ground-mounted photovoltaic farm at 7 Maple Ave.

The project will be “generating electricity in excess of what they actually utilize on their property,” Malloy said.

Attorney Adam Braillard, representing the project proponents, said Westbororough can purchase the electricity from the system.

“National Grid credits the electricity produced by the system at a retail rate,” Braillard said, “and then National Grid assigns the credits to the town.” The “town reimburses the system owner at a discounted rate,” he said.

“We are here because we want to do the right thing. We want to see a win-win. Certainly, we want to see the town taxpayers benefit from this proposal and project,” Braillard said.

Malloy said Westborough will sell the credits back to the system owner for 80 percent of the credit the town gets.

Westborough will earn $2.1 million over the 20-year deal, Malloy said.

The zoning board of appeals granted Harvey’s Farm LLC a variance for the ground-mounted photovoltaic farm on Oct. 1.

Giving Westborough the right of first refusal to buy electricity from the project was among the ZBA’s conditions.