Southampton Planning Board Continues Agrivoltaic Solar Hearing, Orders Expanded Peer Review
Planning and Zoning · Meeting of July 20, 2026
EAST HAMPTON — Southampton Planning Board continues agrivoltaic solar hearing over Barnes Aquifer fire and groundwater concerns. The board voted unanimously to extend its peer reviewer search and to continue the public hearing on a 5.4-megawatt DC agrivoltaic solar and battery energy storage application from Manhan River, LLC to September 2 at 7 p.m., after an hours-long first session at 43 and 53 Pleasant Street on July 20. Blue Wave project director Michael Zee confirmed the proposed Sol Bank 3.0 lithium iron phosphate battery containers will not be equipped with fire suppression systems, telling the board that best practice under National Fire Protection Association code is to allow burning cells to burn out.
Board of Health members Caitlin Rooks and Kate Savarese said Southampton lacks an updated comprehensive emergency management plan and could not afford to extend public water to residents if the Barnes Aquifer were contaminated, with Savarese calling it "highly unlikely" that Blue Wave's insurance would cover neighboring property owners. Board consultant Richard Harris, a retired South Hadley town planner, reported that three of five solicited peer review firms declined; the board directed Harris to solicit additional firms with expanded scope covering noise, fire safety, and hazard mitigation review. Firm selection is set for the August 5 meeting.
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Source: the Planning and Zoning meeting of July 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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