DEI Energizes Massachusetts with 7.1 MW Solar and Storage on Superfund Site
Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI) just flipped the switch on a 7.1 MW solar farm paired with 4 MW of battery storage in Acton, Massachusetts. What makes this project special? It’s built on a former Superfund site—land once written off as unusable. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade.
Why This Project Matters
Solar projects on contaminated land aren’t new, but they’re still rare enough to turn heads. This one powers 1,200 homes annually while keeping the grid stable with lithium-ion batteries (likely Tesla Megapacks, though DEI hasn’t confirmed). The real win? Massachusetts’ SMART program made the numbers work with extra incentives for brownfield development.
The Storage Game-Changer
Four megawatts of storage might sound modest compared to California’s giant installations, but in New England’s congested grid, it’s a big deal. Batteries smooth out solar’s daytime peaks and fill evening demand gaps. Ever notice how electricity prices spike around dinnertime? Projects like this help clip those spikes.
Superfund Sites: Solar’s Unlikely Ally
Critics say solar eats up farmland. DEI’s project proves we can repurpose degraded land instead. The EPA tracks over 1,300 Superfund sites nationally—imagine converting even 10% of those. Massachusetts alone has 30+ eligible locations gathering dust.
How the Tech Stacks Up
Details are scarce, but expect bifacial panels on single-axis trackers—the default choice for Northeastern projects. DEI likely used Canadian Solar or First Solar modules paired with Fronius inverters. The storage system probably hits 16 MWh capacity (4 MW x 4 hours), enough to power Acton through most outages.
The Ripple Effects
This isn’t just about clean electrons. The project created 85 local jobs during construction and will contribute $200,000 yearly in tax revenue. For towns like Acton, that means better schools, smoother roads—real quality-of-life upgrades.
What’s next? Watch for similar projects along the I-95 corridor. With New England’s aggressive decarbonization goals, expect more brownfields to glow under solar arrays.
