There soon will be vast improvements that will save the MBTA
upwards of $2 million over the next twenty years. The Readville
Yard, a largely unused twenty-one acre property in the town of
Dedham, Massachusetts was once envisioned for having 600 apartments
being constructed. This new proposal calls for 8,500 solar panels
to line the plot of land owned by the MBTA, all of which is set to
be in place by the Spring of 2013.
Interestingly enough, this is being held in a far more
supportive regard than the aforementioned notion of an apartment
complex. At fifteen feet tall, the idea for solar panels was
brought forth to a Board of Selectmen meeting in mid April by the
MBTAs manager of energy efficiency, Michael Donaghy. The
surrounding fence around the premises has been promised by Donaghy
to not be an unattractive wire fence, but something far more
attractive and something that the residents of Dedham can be proud
of.
It has been noted that a third-party company will bid on the
property to build, own and operate the facility and will thus be
granted with renewable energy tax credits as a result. Land that
previously was a risky site for arsenic and other harmful materials
such as lead, the MBTA has now completely eliminated such a
situation at this location. With the MBTA also being exempt from
any zoning laws in the local area, Dedhams Zoning Board of Appeals
do not have a viable opinion on the case. However despite this, it
is something that nonetheless will create jobs, save electricity
and spark perhaps the beginning of a green revolution in the
area.
More Information: Dedham Patch