Agrivoltaic Solar Energy Dual Use Project

Challenge

Bluewave Solar sought to develop a dual use solar array project on a portion of a wild blueberry farm in Rockport, Maine. The project included upgrading an existing access road and building a 4.2-megawatt solar energy system in a design compatible with continued blueberry production. GZA was contracted to provide wetland delineation and vernal pool assessments; State, federal, and local permitting; site civil design, and geotechnical foundation recommendations for the equipment pad and racking system.

Solution

GZA delineated wetlands and conducted three site visits to locate and document vernal pools and conduct wetland assessments. The original concept was redesigned to avoid impacts to surrounding natural resources by moving the proposed array outside the 75-foot significant wetland setback and the 250-foot Maces Pond Normal High-Water setback. The project required a Maine Stormwater Law Permit-by-Rule (PBR), Maine Construction General Permit (MCGP), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Self Verification Notification (SVN), and Site Plan Review by the Town of Rockport. GZA developed the site civil plan set and issued for construction civil drawings, developed permitting packages and coordinated agency meetings. Additionally, GZA oversaw the excavation of test pits to obtain subsurface information that was used to provide geotechnical foundation recommendations for the equipment pad and racking system.

Benefit

Because GZA worked with the client to redesign the original concept to avoid natural resources, the project required fewer permits and went from concept to construction in just over a year.