The Dover Amendment 

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The Massachusetts Zoning Enabling Act, (Chapter 40A, Section 3, paragraph 9) contains a provision that solar developers are using to intimidate municipalities into approving large solar projects. This section of the law from the 1990s was never intended to apply to the large industrial scale generating stations or battery storage facilities that are being forced on communities. Section 3 states: “No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy, except where necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.”

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It's up to us to insist that these large-scale installations that destroy hundreds of acres of critical habitat and degrade our water quality will harm public health, safety and welfare.

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The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) itself states that "Where a solar facility is sited, as well as placement on the site once selected, is an important consideration, particularly in regard to large-scale ground mounted facilities. The DOER strongly discourages locations that result in significant loss of land and natural resources, including farm and forest land, and encourages rooftop siting, as well as locations in industrial and commercial districts, or on vacant, disturbed land. Significant tree cutting is problematic because of the important water management, cooling, and climate benefits trees provide]"

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More information on bills aimed at changing to Dover Amendment. 

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Tell your representative to amend section 3 of the Dover Amendment: ACTION ITEM #4