Planning Board Withdraws Clean Energy Moratorium
Planning Board · Meeting of September 24, 2026
Shutesbury Planning Board drops clean energy moratorium after AG pushback. The board voted 4-0, with Chair Nathan abstaining, to withdraw a moratorium on small clean energy infrastructure facilities from the October 17 Special Town Meeting warrant, after the Attorney General's office indicated it would likely reject the measure as conflicting with a protected land use under Chapter 40A. Vice Chair Michael DeCaro told the board the AG's office cited identical language from recent Sturbridge and Lee decisions finding "the need for time to consider how to regulate this use does not constitute a sufficient municipal interest." In a second 5-0-1 vote, the board directed Land Use Clerk Matteo to formally ask operator NextEra to reopen two special permits, for a solar array and a battery energy storage facility, after a fire chief memo raised safety concerns.
Resident Miriam was denied public comment on the matter.
In the full story:
- Before a motion was drafted, Seifert asked the board to clarify the scope
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 1,772 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of September 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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