Franklin County
Franklin County, Massachusetts: solar permitting grade C (score 49/100, Elevated Risk). Score has worsened by 13 points over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | C · Elevated Risk · Score 49/100 |
| Population | 70,180 |
| Solar ordinance | Ordinance status not yet documented |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Worsening (composite risk score has risen over 12 months) |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Franklin County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement. Conditions have been tightening over the past 12 months — watch for additional ordinance changes or board activity. Market saturation is elevated in this area — expect competition for prime land parcels and interconnection capacity.
Local intel
6 energy-related meetings · 3 opposition groups
- 2026-04-28Storagehearing continued; heading to June 2, 2026 Annual Town Meeting vote (outcome not yet confirmed -- gap)
- 2025-11-12Storagepassed (all six warrant articles passed)
- 2024-05-06Storageboth moratoria passed by vote (Article 27 solar 81-17); AG disapproved both moratorium provisions Oct 30, 2024, approved the BESS definitional addition
Want the full record?
Setback distances, board vote histories, source documents, and ordinance amendments are available in the full county profile. The map is free; a walkthrough shows you the underlying record.
About this score
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.