Massachusetts plans to produce 1600 MW of renewable energy by 2020 to help combat climate change. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is supporting this goal by identifying unused waste-sites for photovoltaic (PV) system development. Our team used renewable energy viability software, site visits, stakeholder interviews, and MassDEP databases to determine that 43 of the 83 analyzed sites are potentially viable and sustainable for profitable PV development. We discovered that usable acreage and distance to transmissions lines are the primary factors determining if a site is potentially viable and sustainable. Further, a positive developer-community relationship is important to engage community support.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Medjahed, Anis Adam
• Turnquist, Carl A.
• Cano Ventura, Abraham Noe
• Lambert, Nathaniel Elliot

Subject

• Environment
• Sustainability
• Energy
• Community

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-101117-224002

Keyword

• Renewable energy sources
• Energy policy
• Photovoltaic power systems
• Climate change mitigation

Advisor

• deWinter, Jennifer
• Tuler, Seth

Year

• 2017

Center

• Boston, Massachusetts Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Date created

• 2017-10-11

Location

• Boston

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright