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Solar farm grows out of what was once Westover housing

  • Published
  • By by Tech Sgt. Amelia Leonard
  • 439th Airlift Wing
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  Westover will soon see a significantly lower electric bill thanks to Chicopee Solar LLC. The Chicopee Municipal Light Plant, which services the city of Chicopee, will begin receiving electricity sourced from a newly installed solar plant just outside Westover.

Once the plant begins generating power, the electricity costs to Westover are estimated to drop approximately five percent, according to Joel McAuliffe, the communications director for Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos.

The solar panels were installed on land which was formerly part of Westover housing, just outside the James Street gate. The property, approximately 27 acres, was sold to the city in 2011.

“This is a home run for the city and the neighborhood,” said Kos. “The site will see a substantial improvement moving from old dilapidated military housing to a regularly maintained solar field with 5.1 acres set aside for business development. We were able to address several issues while providing a resource for Westover and the city as well.”