Douglas Planning Board Approves Blue Wave Solar Modifications, Releases $34,000 Bond

DOUGLAS — October 8, 2025 — Douglas Planning Board unanimously approved minor modifications to the Blue Wave Energy solar facility at 45 Oak Street and released a $34,000 performance bond for the JMT Sleepy Hollow subdivision at its October 8 meeting. Chris Drexel, Blue Wave's Vice President of Project Execution, told the board that silt fencing has been removed, all required signage is installed and fire-department verified, Knox box locks are in place at all access gates, and two fire department training sessions were completed this week, with basin clean-out finished the day prior. The board approved a smaller animal shed footprint — reduced from 30 by 60 feet to 16 by 34 feet — a fence relocation to exclude a rock pile from the fenced area, and a switch from a solar-powered to an AC-powered well pump. Building Inspector Frazier, who visited the site Tuesday, told the board the project is "greatly improved." Soil samples from 10 locations across the 40-acre site are pending at UMass Amherst, with remediation scope to be determined once results are returned. The board also endorsed a revised Approval Not Required plan at 43 Manchog Street and opened a first working pass through proposed subdivision rules and regulations amendments, flagging a legal dispute over whether performance bonds can be held past road completion through town meeting acceptance for review by town counsel.