Planning Board approves solar permit for Cook farm

Planning Board · Meeting of June 10, 2026

HADLEY — The Hadley Planning Board unanimously approved a site plan and special permit for a large-scale solar array on Gordon Cook's farm. Presenters Doug Sorrell and Jake Marley, representing developer Hyperion Systems, told the board the Hadley Conservation Commission had required removal of proposed screening trees near a wetland, with the project instead relying on existing vegetation that Sorrell said makes it "pretty difficult to see" the panels from the road. The commission added a condition barring Cook from clear-cutting vegetation within an intermittent stream corridor except where trees fall into farmed fields.

The board set a decommissioning surety of $42,532.50, built from a base cost estimate of $18,903 with a 1.5 multiplier for prevailing wage. Chair James Maksimoski moved approval citing bylaw findings; Mark Dunn seconded, and the board passed it on a unanimous roll-call vote.

In the full story:

• Remote Meeting Procedures
• Solar Special Permit Hearing: Gordon Cook Property
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,372 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of June 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.