Local News
Residents to Vote on Future of Cape Cod Golf Course at Upcoming Town Meeting
A historic golf course in Cape Cod, which has been in operation for nearly a century, may soon be transformed into a solar energy site. On Monday, November 17, Falmouth residents will vote on a proposal to convert the Cape Cod Country Club property into solar panels and a battery storage facility while designating part of the land for conservation.
If the community approves the plan, developed by PureSky Energy, about 57 acres will be equipped with more than 45,000 solar panels. This setup is expected to generate over 29,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, fulfilling approximately 7% of the county’s energy needs. Additionally, 137 acres would be donated to the town for conservation projects, including planting pollinator meadows and trees.
The Cape Cod Commission, responsible for regional planning, has already given the green light for this project in a meeting last September. This initiative is set to become the most extensive solar array project in the county and one of the largest in Massachusetts.
There are three key articles regarding the project on the agenda for the Town Meeting. Article 12 would facilitate the land donation to the town, ensuring certain areas are preserved for municipal and conservation purposes, including walking trails and a well-loved sledding hill.
Article 13 would allow the town’s Select Board to request state legislation to accept the donated land as a gift, expediting the donation process. This could enable a lease back to the developers for the solar project for up to 40 years, with possible extensions.
A citizens’ petition under Article 14 aims to halt the project by removing the golf course from the town’s solar overlay district, which was established in a prior Town Meeting. The course owner, David Friel, indicated there was little interest in maintaining it as a golf course, citing financial difficulties.
There has been vocal opposition from some residents who wish to see the golf course remain. They argue it is one of the few affordable public courses in the area and holds historical significance, recounting its rich legacy, including hosting multiple state tournaments in the 1950s. A petition to save the course has already secured over 3,500 signatures.
