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ARTICLE · 03 MAY 2022

Massachusetts SMART Program Expands Eligibility For Solar Units On Agricultural Land

Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
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These recent changes clarify and alter certain requirements related to solar development on agricultural land in Massachusetts.

United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Brook Detterman
Brook Detterman
Lauren M. Karam
Lauren M. Karam

On April 12, 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) finalized changes to the Guideline Regarding the Definition of Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Units for the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program. These recent changes clarify and alter certain requirements related to solar development on agricultural land in Massachusetts.

As we reported in 2020, the SMART program remains a work in progress, aimed at encouraging solar development while managing land use in Massachusetts. One area of focus is solar development on agricultural land. The SMART program regulates solar on farmland as an "Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Unit." An "Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Unit" is defined as "a Solar Tariff Generation Unit located on Land in Agricultural Use or Important Agricultural Farmland that allows the continued use of the land for agriculture." The new guidance continues to allow commercial solar on agricultural land

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