HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5770 FILED ON: 3/19/2026
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5294
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Paul W. Mark
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a temporary moratorium on large scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations and battery energy storage systems in the town of Worthington.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Lindsay N. Sabadosa | 1st Hampshire | 3/19/2026 |
Paul W. Mark | Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire | 3/19/2026 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5770 FILED ON: 3/19/2026
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5294
By Representative Sabadosa of Northampton and Senator Mark, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5294) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Paul W. Mark (by vote of the town) for legislation to establish a temporary moratorium on large scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations and battery energy storage systems in the town of Worthington. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.] |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a temporary moratorium on large scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations and battery energy storage systems in the town of Worthington.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, and notwithstanding any other provision of the Zoning Bylaws to the contrary, there hereby is a moratorium on any and all applications for Large Scale Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations and/or Battery Energy Storage Systems, which moratorium shall not apply for residential installations. The moratorium shall be in effect for one year after the adoption of this special act or the date on which the Town adopts amendments to the Town’s Zoning Bylaws concerning regulation of Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations and/or Battery Energy Storage Systems, whichever occurs earlier. During the moratorium period, the Town shall undertake a planning process to study, review, analyze, and address what revisions to the Zoning Bylaws relative to Industrial Large Scale Ground Solar Photovoltaic Installations and/or Battery Energy Storage Systems are needed or desirable to allow for and regulate such use consistent with applicable law while protecting the Town’s ecological resources and furthering its planning goals.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.