Article

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO) disapproved Blandford's proposed temporary zoning moratorium on large-scale solar and battery energy storage systems on March 11, 2026. This decision continues a trend of AGO rejections of municipal bylaws conflicting with state law regarding solar facilities.

The Town's proposal aimed to prohibit such uses until May 31, 2026, citing high demand and several projects in progress. However, the AGO found the moratorium violated G.L. c. 40A, Section 3, which protects solar energy systems, as the Town failed to provide necessary justifications for the prohibition. The ruling emphasized the long-standing protection of solar facilities under state law.