Lanesborough Planning Board reviews Blue Wave solar farm, scenic-view snag

Planning Board · Meeting of August 17, 2026

Lanesborough Planning Board hears pitch for 6,020-panel solar farm snagged by scenic-view rule. Engineer Andrew Hamill of Weston and Sampson, representing developer Blue Wave, outlined a 19-acre, 3.97-megawatt dual-use array on Square Roots Farm that would power an estimated 800 to 900 homes, but part of the site falls inside the town's Greylock Scenic View Shed, where a 2023 bylaw restricts solar. Hamill said a new state "practical difficulty" variance standard, adopted in July's state budget, may offer the fastest path to a Zoning Board of Appeals approval.

Farm owner Mike said the shade alone "would have been a good deal on its own, even if there was no energy generation." No application has been filed. Separately, the board unanimously elected Audra Ladd vice chair, reappointed Mark Arthuran as its Berkshire Regional Planning Commission delegate, and heard a briefing from BRPC's Allison Dixon on finally operationalizing the town's long-dormant stormwater management bylaw.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,419 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of August 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.