Solar developer ConEdison proposed to clear-cut Pine Barrens forest, denude land for large ground mounted solar, batteries.

Wareham Residents provided overwhelming evidence of poor project siting.

After a four years of community engagement and public hearings, the Planning Board denied the project. 

Site is located on Weweantic River; ancient Native American trails, wildlife habitat, would have been lost.

Read about the unique natural resources of Wareham’s Fearing Hill here.

Read more about the destructive solar proposal here.

Read and Download the Fact Sheet on Fearing Hill here.

ConEdison proposed a solar project in West Wareham that threatened to clear-cut one of the last remaining intact ancient forests in the lower west-side of the Weweantic River watershed. The Project is at 91 and 101 Fearing Hill Road, directly upgradient of the Weweantic River and residential drinking water wells. The Project would have leveled scenic and historic hillside adjoining Town conservation land, and isolate a continuous wetland on its southern side. The proposed project plans are here. 

However Wareham residents pushed back against this project at the local Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. For over four years, the residents of Wareham have provided evidence of poor project siting, such as the sheer size of deforestation, the threats to private water and sewer systems, loss of wildlife habitat adjacent to conservation area, the siting of the clearcutting and industrial development on a steep hillside, and cumulative impact of multiple solar development projects in the same area. Watch the November 25, 2024 public hearing in which the public states their concerns and reasons for denial. There were no public comments or submittals in favor of this project.

On June 23, 2025, the Wareham Planning Board met to deliberate on the Findings of Fact for the project, which was a compilation and assessment of the entire public record on file, in order to determine by votes in favor or against the findings if the project complied with local Zoning Bylaws. You can read more about the Wareham Planning Board’s Finding of Fact procedure, and how you can participate effectively, on our blog.  After reviewing the information on file, and finding that the project did not adequately protect the public health, safety and welfare, the Board voted 0 – 4 to approve the project, thereby denying it.

Check back here for a complete copy of the decision, once issued!

In 2022 the Wareham Conservation Commission DENIED an order of conditions for this project, stating that the project cannot be conditioned to meet the performance standards set forth in the wetlands regulations. This denial of the order was based on the fact that clearcutting 22 acres of trees would inevitable alter the downgradient wetlands. Read the DENIED order of conditions here.

However, in 2023, ConEdison appealed the Denial of the Order of Conditions to the DEP. In an egregious decision that threatens to strike at the very heart of Wareham’s biodiversity and natural resources, in May 2024 the DEP sided with ConEdison and granted a superseding order of conditions for the project.

However, Wareham residents fought back. A group of 12 Wareham residents appealed the DEP’s decision to the highest environmental court in the state, the MassDEP Office of Appeals and Dispute Resolution. Read the Residents’ appeal of the DEP’s decision here.

Residents continue to fight irresponsible solar at the proposed Fearing Hill Solar site in West Wareham. In late 2024/early 2025, the Town settled with the solar company behind closed doors to issue a local wetlands permit, reversing its denial its original denial in 2022. On March 14, 2025, CLWC provided legal services to three residents abutting the project to file a legal case to reverse the permit. See the lawsuit here. 

We’re at a critical time to stop irresponsibly-sited solar projects before the Energy Facilities Siting Board issues its final Solar Siting Guidelines. It is to the credit of the public who proved that solar does not belong in our forests. Join our coalition at Responsible Solar Massachusetts to join a large network of individuals throughout the Commonwealth who advocate that we need BOTH solar AND our forests.

Community Land and Water Coalition along with many Wareham residents will continue to advocate for responsible solar siting in our communities.

Please continue to turn out to make your voice heard. Local residents’ voices matter when it comes to local decisions. Check our Calendar for upcoming Planning Board meetings. We need solar on our rooftops and in our parking lots, not in our forests!