Steven Wiehe of Peabody's Weston and Sampson addresses Williamstown's Conservation Commission about the landfill solar project.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Conservation Commission on Thursday OK'd plans for a 1.9-megawatt solar project on the town's capped landfill.

 

The commission reviewed plans for the project with engineer Steven Wiehe of Peabody's Weston and Sampson.

 

Wiehe explained that the project will include about 6,000 solar photovoltaic panels on about 7 acres of the 12-acre site.

 

In order to avoid harming the liner that covers the landfill, the work will be done above ground, and the area with the panels will be covered by 4 inches of stone gravel, Wiehe said.

 

And to prevent the growth of vegetation through that gravel layer, the developers of the solar project asked the Con Comm for permission to treat the area — which borders a resource area — with an herbicide.

 

The commission took little time to approve the project but added the condition that the herbicide be applied with a hand sprayer on a spot basis.

 

The solar project, on which the town is a co-applicant, was approved by the Planning Board earlier in the week.

 

Wiehe told the Con Comm that developer Brightfields Development of Wellesley anticipates about a four-month window for start to finish of the project once all permitting is in place.

 

In other business on Thursday, the Con Comm reorganized itself. After serving as chairman for three years, Philip McKnight stepped down from the post, and Richard Schlesinger was elected to take his place. Sarah Gardner will serve as the body's vice chairman.