Worthington Planning Board Continues Solar Permit Hearing to January

WORTHINGTON -- November 23, 2025, Worthington Planning Board opens public hearing on a 3.95-megawatt agrivoltaic solar proposal near the center of town. BWC Wave Stream LLC, a project entity of Blue Wave, is seeking a special permit and site plan review to install approximately 7,462 ground-mounted solar panels across roughly 27.45 acres on Ridge Road, with a portion of the project overlapping the town's Water Supply Protection District. Abutter and Worthington Golf Course owner Helen Sherry Collard presented a detailed legal argument that the application is fatally incomplete, citing the absence of groundwater analysis, NFPA 855 fire protection materials, battery storage plans, and Conservation Commission orders of conditions; she called on the board to deny without prejudice. Fire Chief Steve Strong questioned battery chemistry, road weight capacity, and on-site water supply for firefighting, noting mutual aid from Northampton would take approximately 32 minutes. Town counsel Robert Stein of KP Law warned the board that denying a solar application on the first hearing night could result in a court ordering the permit issued without conditions. The board voted unanimously to continue the hearing to January 8, 2026.