Falmouth Residents to Vote on Solar Farm Proposal for Historic Golf Course
Falmouth, MA – Residents will decide next Monday, November 17th, whether to transform the nearly century-old Cape Cod Country Club into a solar energy generation and conservation site.
The proposal from PureSky Energy involves covering approximately 57 acres with over 45,000 solar panels, projected to produce over 29,000 megawatt-hours of energy annually – enough to power 7% of Cape Cod’s electricity. In exchange, the developers would donate 137 acres to the town for conservation, including pollinator meadows and walking trails. Approximately 10 acres would be cleared for the solar arrays and battery storage. The Cape Cod Commission approved the project in September, calling it the most extensive solar array approved in the county to date.
Three articles are on the Town Meeting agenda regarding the project. Article 12 concerns the land donation and lease-back agreement, while Article 13 seeks state legislative approval to streamline the donation process. A citizens’ petition, Article 14, aims to halt the project by removing the golf course from the town’s solar overlay district, established in 2021. Course owner David Friel stated the course was struggling financially and that efforts to find a buyer interested in maintaining it as a golf course were unsuccessful. “This is an exciting moment for Falmouth and for our team,” said Derek Moretz, VP of development at PureSky Energy, according to the Cape Cod Commission.
The proposal has faced opposition from residents who value the course as an affordable public golf option and a historical landmark, with a Change.org petition garnering over 3,500 signatures. The debate highlights the growing tension between renewable energy development and preserving recreational spaces and local history. Town officials will await the outcome of the vote before proceeding with any transition plans.
