Planning Board Approves Solar and Battery Storage Amendments
Sturbridge Planning Board unanimously backed solar and battery storage zoning amendments. The board voted 5-0 to allow ground-mounted solar as a primary use in Commercial and Commercial II districts, and unanimously approved BESS as both an allowable use and primary use facilities.
Planning Board · Meeting of August 24, 2026
Sturbridge Planning Board unanimously backed solar and battery storage zoning amendments. The board voted 5-0 to allow ground-mounted solar as a primary use in Commercial and Commercial II districts, and unanimously approved BESS as both an allowable use and primary use facilities. Aidan Adams, Town Planner, presented seven considerations approved by the board, including heightened groundwater protections and a new consolidated local permit guidelines section; the board voted 4-1 (Dane LaBonte dissenting) to maintain a 20 percent parcel cap on solar facilities.
The amendments advance to the Select Board for a public hearing, aligning Sturbridge with state law changes enabling BESS on October 1.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 388 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of August 24, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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