Amherst Boards Begin Joint Review of Clean Energy Zoning Bylaw, Continue to June 3

Planning Board · Meeting of May 20, 2026

Amherst opens joint public hearing on a proposed Clean Energy Infrastructure zoning bylaw covering solar and battery storage systems. Planning Board Chair Doug Marshall and Community Resource Committee Chair Pam Rooney co-presided over the May 20 session, working through sections of a 22-plus-page Article 18 draft four years in development. Board members including Bruce Colden and Angus McLeod questioned whether the document's length and complexity undercut its stated goal of encouraging solar development, with near-unanimous board sentiment favoring elimination of a contested impact-analysis submittal requirement covering carbon sequestration and scenic views.

Fred Hartwell, identified as secretary of the committee that produces the Massachusetts Electrical Code, flagged technical errors in the battery storage compliance section and offered to draft corrections. Public commenter Steve Roof, an environmental science professor at Hampshire College, warned that the draft does not fully integrate with the state's finalized 225 CMR 29 regulations, issued just two months ago. Both bodies voted unanimously to continue to June 3 — the town must accept consolidated clean energy permit applications by October 1, 2026.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of May 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.