COUNTY OF NORFOLK NORFOLK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Board of County Commissioners for the County of
Norfolk (“County”) will hold a PUBLIC HEARING, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 34,
Section 14, on Monday, May 2, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Norfolk County Agricultural
High School, Administration Building, Main Conference Room located at 400 Main Street,
Walpole, MA, on the County’s proposed lease of the following County-owned premises
(“Premises”) in the Town of Walpole to Kearsarge Energy LLC.
9.0 acres of land to be leased from land that is owned by Norfolk County with the
improvements thereon contiguous with the main campus (which consists of
202.6±Acres) of the Norfolk County Agricultural High School addressed as 400
Main Street, Walpole, MA, said 9.0 acres of land to be leased from portions of
the following recorded & registered land parcels depicted on plans entitled: “Plan
of Land in Walpole, Mass”, Plan Number 971 of 1969 in Plan Book 226, and
“Plan of Land in Walpole, Mass”, Plan Number 69 of 1973 in Plan Book 235,
and Land Court Case Plan 11282A, Lot A. The 9.0 acres leased area will include
portions of the following Town of Walpole Assessor Maps-parcel numbers 13-
169, 13-167, 13-166 and 18-21.
The County of Norfolk proposes to lease the Premises to Kearsarge Energy LLC for the
construction and installation of a One (1) megawatt AC ground-mounted solar photovoltaic
(“PV”) system for a period of 20 years. The rental rate for the Premises will be $31,500 per year
in ground rent with a provision for a 1.5% annual increase in rent for the term of the lease
The County’s intent is to use this solar PV system to address, meet, or exceed several of its
goals, objectives, strategies, and actions concerning the County and the Norfolk County
Agricultural High School’s fiscal needs including entering into a solar Energy Management
Services Agreement (“EMSA) that supports the County and School’s essential governmental
functions and the policies and goals of: (1) reducing energy costs; (2) promoting and supporting
the development of renewable energy resources; (3) reducing the County’s carbon footprint; and
(4) developing a ninth through twelfth grade curriculum in solar energy for the school that
conforms to Common Core and Next Generation State Science Standards.
Additional information, with an overview of the County’s solar proposal, can be found on the
homepage of the Norfolk County website at www.norfolkcounty.org or by calling
the Commissioners’ Office at (781) 461-6105 to request a copy of the overview.
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Residents are invited to provide oral and/or written comments during the PUBLIC HEARING
concerning the County’s proposed lease. The County Commissioners encourage residents who
are planning to submit extensive testimony to provide said testimony in writing so that all
interested parties will have the opportunity to participate in the public hearing. For planning and
logistical purposes, the County requests residents planning to present oral or written comments
during the PUBLIC HEARING to email commissioners@norfolkcounty.org in advance of said
hearing.
If you are unable to attend the public hearing in person but would like to comment or have
questions, please feel free to contact the Office of the County Commissioners at
commissioners@norfolkcounty.org or by phone at (781) 461-6105.