Soltage completes development of Bird Machine Solar farm in Massachusetts

Soltage, a US-based renewable energy company, has completed the development of 4.75MW Bird Machine Solar Farm in Walpole, Massachusetts.

The new solar farm has been constructed on the former Bird Machine industrial site. It has 14,600 panels to produce almost 6 million kilowatt-hours of energy annually, which is sufficient to power around 623 homes annually and reduce almost 9.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide.

Walpole town will buy the power from the new solar farm at a fixed-price below the utility energy costs. 

Soltage CEO Jesse Grossman said: "Turning brownfields into brightfields is an ideal solution for municipalities like Walpole across Massachusetts and across the country.

"Walpole has shown real environmental and economic leadership by enabling this project which will help spur local economic development and create strong environmental benefits. By installing solar on brownfields, we're lowering power costs for local communities, creating jobs, and contributing to local economy."

Walpole Township administrator Jim Johnson said: "Solar is an excellent solution for brownfields. I am pleased to see that the former manufacturing area is now being put to good use producing clean, affordable solar energy. This is a win-win for Walpole. Soltage has been a great partner on this project throughout."

Tenaska, an independent energy company, co-owns the project as part of a portfolio investment it made with Soltage for the construction in late 2015.

Tenaska senior vice president Tim Hemig said: "We are pleased to be part of a successful project like this, turning brownfield sites into solar fields that generate renewable energy at a competitive price. With Bird Machine, Soltage continues to demonstrate its leadership in forward-thinking distributed solar generation."

The Bird Machine Solar Farm is spread of over 25 of the 134 acres owned by Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE).