Groundbreaking 4 MW solar project transforms EPA Superfund site in Woburn, Massachusetts
Located in Woburn, Massachusetts, this 4 MW Industri-Plex solar project was developed on an EPA Superfund site. The ground-mount project is divided into two arrays and was completed over two phases.
Together, the systems yield 5,200 megawatt-hours of energy annually, equivalent to offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions produced by 823 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for a year, providing electricity for 720 homes for one year and charging 449,822,970 smartphones.
“Standard Solar is honored to be a part of this transformative journey and is committed to bringing clean and sustainable energy to the heart of Massachusetts,” said Harry Benson, Director of Business Development, Standard Solar. “We believe that the Industri-Plex project is a testament to the power of innovation, partnership and dedication to a greener future.”
The Industri-Plex, a 245-acre plot of land, had evolved to become an industrial juggernaut by the 1800s. By the 1980s, it had earned the dubious distinction of being ranked as the fifth-most polluted site in the nation. However, in 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a Reuse Work Plan for the solar arrays, which were constructed on the East-Central and East side of the site.
Standard Solar acquired the project from its developer partner, ECA Solar, and is the system’s long-term owner and operator. “ECA values its partnership with Standard Solar in completing this, and other, solar projects,” said Todd Fryatt, founder and CEO of ECA Solar. “We’re proud of the work we have accomplished at Industri-plex together and are excited to see this project completed, bringing forward a bright future for this site and this community.”
“Standard Solar greatly appreciates and acknowledges the unwavering commitment of our partner, ECA Solar, in driving forward this impactful project,” stated Benson. “Together, we are making a difference.”
The system has a substantial economic and environmental impact on the nearby city of Somerville by offsetting its electricity costs and advancing its climate action goals.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in the fall of 2023. This event included speakers Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne; David Cash, Regional Administrator – EPA; Bonnie Heiple, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; and special guest Jan Schlichtmann, Environmental and Civil Justice Attorney.
“This solar farm is the green economy in action, creating green jobs and providing solar credits to cover more than one-third of the electricity used by Somerville’s municipal buildings and functions. For our community, this is more than just a cost savings, it’s an important step forward in our goal to be carbon net negative by 2050,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “I can’t thank Standard Solar and ECA Solar enough for the good work done here.”
