Solar Canopy Innovation
A new renewable energy project may soon come to Lexington, Massachusetts. If approved, it will place solar canopies along a two-mile stretch of Route 2’s highway median, making it the first solar installation of its kind in the United States. The program, known as the “Green Mile,” could begin construction as early as next year.
The project is being developed by Solway Development, a company based in Weymouth that focuses on energy infrastructure. Company founders John Iredale and James McAuliffe first came up with the idea while working on solar panels for MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) parking lots. They realized that highway medians, areas of land that usually go unused, could be a perfect spot for solar energy. They first introduced the idea to former Governor Charlie Baker, who liked it, but the plan was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Governor Maura Healey took office, she helped bring it back to life.
“This is an exciting opportunity to bring clean energy to a dense area without taking up valuable land,” said Maggie Peard, Lexington’s sustainability officer.
MassDOT (Massachusetts Department of Transportation) has been working with Solway to get the pilot project going. State officials chose the Lexington site because it doesn’t have environmental issues like wetlands or endangered species, and it’s close to where a lot of electricity is needed.
“This is land that just sits there and doesn’t serve much purpose,” said McAuliffe. “Now, it could help provide power for thousands of homes.”
One challenge for the Green Mile project is how it will be funded. A law signed by former President Donald Trump is reducing federal tax credits for solar energy, which could make future projects more expensive to finance. Typically, solar projects receive assistance from both state and federal programs. Solway plans to lease the land from the state and use money from the state’s SMART program, which pays solar companies for the power they create. In the past, tax credits made it easier to get investors, but with those going away, Solway is trying to start construction before the new rules take full effect in 2026.
So far, they’ve secured interest from the state, are working with utility company Eversource, and have been in contact with Lexington officials.
If the pilot is successful, Solway hopes to expand the project across other highway medians in Massachusetts — about 400 miles total. That could generate enough electricity to match the power of a nuclear plant, powering hundreds of thousands of homes. But with the reduced tax credits, it’s unclear how much of that plan will be possible.
A public Zoom meeting will be held on Thursday, July 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. for Lexington residents to learn more and ask questions.