07/12/2022
Dear Waltham Neighbors, I live in North Waltham on the Lexington/Lincoln line. The residents of this neighborhood have been informed that a large scale solar facility is being built on land in Lexington that backs up to our homes. In some cases, the solar panels are 15 feet from our neighbors property lines.
Worse than the literal “they are building this in my backyard” is the developers plan to clear cut 5.5 acres of heavily forested area. The current conservative estimate is that 800 mature trees will be removed along with all low growing vegetation. The area they plan to build on borders the Cambridge Reservoir. The City of Cambridge wisely opposes the project because the clear cutting of the area around the reservoir is a threat to the City’s drinking water supply. It is also a threat to the thousands of animals, including large packs of coyotes and deers, that call that forested area their home. The deforestation will either kill the animals or drive them into our neighborhoods or onto the abutting highways (Routes 2 and 95). The EPA recommends that solar projects be built in areas that will not disturb wildlife habitats. There are many other options that border highways that will not require the clear cutting of 5+ acres of trees.
Because of the unique location of this piece of property not a single Lexington resident will be impacted by this project.
Please help us have our voices heard. Send an email to [email protected] and tell them that the deforestation of this area is not acceptable and that the solar field needs to be much smaller with at least a 200 foot buffer from property lines so that it doesn’t negatively impact the environment or create a public health hazard to the neighbors from radiation emitted from the inverter stations.
There is a Zoom hearing on Wednesday, December 7th at 6:00 pm. You can watch by going to http://www.lexingtonma.gov/377/access-virtual-meetings
The matter won’t be resolved in one meeting, we anticipate there are more meetings to come. The project is called the Tracer Lane Solar Project.
Your Waltham neighbors appreciate your support.
