Dossier
Quabbin Reservoir
Coverage of Quabbin Reservoir in the Nexus archive.
- Towns surrounding the Quabbin Reservoir protect the water for 2.7 million people in Eastern Mass. They’re getting financially starved in the process.
Towns surrounding the Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts, which supply clean water to 2.7 million people, face financial crises due to land owned by the Commonwealth being excluded from local tax bases. PILOT payments for this land are significantly below state averages, costing towns like Shutesbury millions annually and threatening essential services.
- SJC sides with solar developer in dispute with Petersham officials
The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Petersham officials improperly blocked a solar project by Sunpin Energy Services, requiring the town to conduct a site-specific analysis to reconsider the permit. The decision highlights tensions between promoting solar energy and preserving local control over land use in forested areas.