Massachusetts golf course solar farm plan has some residents concerned
Denise Coffey- A proposed solar farm on a golf course in East Falmouth, Massachusetts, is raising concerns among residents.
- Key issues include fire safety, noise and potentially decreased property values.
- The developer plans to clear more than 10 acres for solar panels while preserving about 55 acres as open space.
Fire safety, noise levels, groundwater pollution, and a decrease in property values top residents’ concerns about a proposed large-scale solar array on an 18-hole golf course in East Falmouth, Massachusetts, as the project moves through regulatory review.
ASD Cape Cod Holdings LLC plans to build a ground-mounted solar farm on 102 acres at the Cape Cod Country Club. The plan includes clearing 10.4 acres and grading some slopes for the installation of solar panel racks. About 55 acres would be permanently protected as open space, according to Raúl Lizardi-Rivera, director of engineering at Cape & Islands Engineering.
“The Planning Board is not in a position to approve or deny this project,” Planning Board Chair John Druley said at a Dec. 9 project site plan review meeting. “We’re here to condition this project to make it the best we can for the town of Falmouth.”
The project is in Falmouth’s large-scale ground-mounted solar overlay district. Solar energy farms and systems are considered state priorities and are protected under the state’s Dover Amendment, according to comments made at the meeting.
Town Counsel Maura O'Keefe said the solar array is a by-right project. Town bylaws give the Planning Board the right to impose “reasonable” conditions, O'Keefe said.
What is the ownership of the property?
In 1928, Cape Cod Country Club opened as a nine-hole course called Coonamesset, named for the nearby inn, according to the course website.
The proposed solar farm property is at 41, 42, 48 and 59 Theatre Drive and 0 Boxberry Hill Road, according to town records. The properties are owned by New Cape Cod Country Club Inc., town assessor records showed.
In a series of votes on Nov. 17, Falmouth town meeting members endorsed the town’s partnership in the proposed Cape Cod Country Club solar development, approving two items that ultimately give the town ownership of the land while leasing it back to the solar company, and rejecting a zoning amendment that sought to remove the land from the town's large-scale ground-mounted solar overlay district.
What are the fire safety protections?
Fire risk is considered low, according to Lawrence Cook, project manager for PureSky Energy. Battery systems are the main fire risk when cells are overcharged, Cook said.
Seven 20-foot repurposed containers will house batteries for storage. The lithium iron phosphate batteries will be located in the containers on impermeable pads, as specified in Massachusetts regulations.
Containers will be climate-controlled, under constant monitoring, equipped with early warning systems and an automatic shutdown system, he said. The fire alarm system will have back-up power.
The company has yet to develop a site-specific emergency response plan with local authorities.
What about noise from the solar farm?
The battery system, inverters and transformers at three sites make noise, but at levels that comply with Massachusetts regulations, Cook said. At 150 feet away, the noise drops to nearly imperceptible levels, he said, adding that the closest homes to the sites were 500 feet away.
At the meeting, residents Jim Fox and David Moriarty questioned the decibel levels. Another resident noted that sound travels differently across water and questioned whether the sound would be heightened with Coonamessett Pond nearby. Moriarty asked that one condition set by the Planning Board be a sound study for the project.
Is water contamination considered?
The applicant proposes to monitor water quality in Coonamessett Pond and claims that the golf course puts more herbicides and insecticides on the land than any pollution coming from the proposed solar array. Cook said any PFAS, known as forever chemicals, on site were solid and immobile, that they would be contained in the event of an electrical fire and would not get into the groundwater.
Resident and scientist Henry Dick said the golf course property is unique to Cape Cod because it is a critical area where the Cape’s sole source aquifer gets recharged. This is one of a few areas where the town can build new wells, he said, adding that the proposed grading could divert water to Coonamessett Pond.
“It’s important that we protect this resource,” he said. He asked the Planning Board to request a survey as a condition of the project.
What will the view of the solar panels be?
The applicant will plant trees and vegetation to obscure arrays from neighbors, according to Lizardi-Rivera. At the 18th hole, the lowest point of the parcel, ASD intends to plant 160 trees. Existing vegetation obscures the proposed west and south array with tree canopies ranging from 50 to 100 feet, according to Lizardi-Rivera. The town owns land adjacent to the north array.
“We believe the view shed will be obscured by existing vegetation on all these properties,” Lizardi-Rivera said.
Resident Judy Atkinson said property values close to the array would decrease. She was concerned about noise, the project’s impact on the quality of her neighborhood, changes to drainage because of grading, and the loss of scenic views.
ASD will lease the land, the terms of which are not yet finalized.
The applicant requested a continuance to the Jan. 13, 2026 meeting, according to town records.
Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape’s residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com .
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