MassachusettsFalmouth could offer town land for solar and energy projects
Falmouth’s Select Board could accept about 139 acres as a gift and make some or all of that land available for energy projects.
What it does
Falmouth’s Select Board could accept five parcels, totaling about 139 acres, as a gift from their current or former owner.
The Select Board could lease or otherwise transfer some or all of the land to companies for solar power, energy storage, power lines, or related equipment.
The land acquisition and transfers would be exempt from Chapter 30B rules.
Argument forCompanies could use the land for solar power and energy storage, giving Falmouth a site for local energy projects.
Argument againstFalmouth could skip Chapter 30B rules for these land deals, which may reduce the public process those rules provide.
More detail
Falmouth’s Select Board would be authorized to accept five parcels as a gift. The parcels are at 41, 42, 48, and 59 Theatre Drive and 0 Boxberry Hill Road in Falmouth, totaling about 139.43 acres. The act would take effect upon its passage.
Falmouth’s Select Board would be authorized to lease or otherwise transfer all or part of the parcels to companies. This applies to all or part of the five specified parcels in Falmouth. Companies must use the land to build, operate, or maintain a solar energy facility, energy storage, energy transmission, or related infrastructure. The act would take effect upon its passage.
The specified land transactions would be exempt from Chapter 30B requirements. The exemption covers the acquisition and transfer of the specified Falmouth land. The act would take effect upon its passage.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 14Signed by the Governor Maura Healey, Chapter 243 of the Acts of 2026Latest
- Oct 5Enacted and laid before the GovernorMajor
- Oct 5EnactedBecame Law
- Oct 1Read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossedPassed 2nd Chamber
- Oct 1Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- Jun 18Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- May 18Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session
- May 14Read third and passed to be engrossedPassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 2Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Apr 2Rules suspended
- Apr 2Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- Mar 12Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and SchedulingMinor
- Mar 3Hearing rescheduled to 03/03/2026 from 01:00 PM-01:30 PM in 222 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
- Feb 26Hearing scheduled for 03/03/2026 from 01:00 PM-03:00 PM in 222
- Feb 17Senate concurred
- Feb 12Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional GovernmentIntroduced
Environment & EnergyGovernment & Ethics