Plymouth County Solar Wind Farms

You are volunteering with the Kingston Green Energy Committee. Many of the towns in Plymouth County are working together to identify green energy options, specifically the development of combined solar and wind farms. The Committee learned that you are a GIS Expert and you were asked to delineate suitable locations for these combined solar – wind farms for Kingston and also for another town within Plymouth County. 

Selection Criteria:

1. The site has to have a slope angle of 15° or less (it also can be flat).

2. The slope has to have a southerly aspect (135° to 225°).

3. The wind speed at 30 m has to be above 5 m per second. 

Solar Wind Farms are natural power energy generators that produce no emissions, which results in cleaner air and water. Wind turbines use the wind-air to pump water, and to generate electricity. Solar panels use the sunlight for generating electricity, hot water heating, and solar cooling. Three criteria that are essential for determining a suitable location for a Solar Wind Farm include an area that has a slope angle of 15 degrees or less, the slope has to have a southerly aspect 135 degrees to 225 degrees, and the wind speed at 30 meters has to be above 5 meters per second. In the map above showing the town of Kingston, Massachusetts, the yellow triangles are areas that match the three essential criteria for a Solar Wind Farm. There are 110 suitable locations in the town of Kingston. Another important factor to consider is how close these suitable locations are to residential areas. Wind turbines generally cast shadows over the land below, so it is best to have solar wind farms distant from residential locations. The solid yellow triangles in the map above represent locations that intersect residential land areas. This feature shows areas that match the three essential criteria for a solar wind farm, but might not be a good location because of how close it is to residential land. Another factor to consider is wetland areas, shown above in blue. Solar wind farms need to be on dry, open space and can not be built on wetland. The yellow triangles with black dots in the center are suitable locations for solar wind farms, that do not intersect residential or wetland areas. Further analysis can determine if the land is vacant or not, and how many acres are available to build a solar wind farm. 

In the map above showing the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts, the yellow triangles are areas that match the three essential criteria for a Solar Wind Farm. There are 14 suitable locations in the town of Middleboro. Another important factor to consider is how close these suitable locations are to residential areas. Wind turbines generally cast shadows over the land below, so it is best to have solar wind farms distant from residential locations. The solid yellow triangles in the map above represent locations that intersect residential land areas. This feature shows areas that match the three essential criteria for a solar wind farm, but might not be a good location because of how close it is to residential land. Another factor to consider is wetland areas, shown above in blue. Solar wind farms need to be on dry, open space and can not be built on wetland. The yellow triangles with black dots in the center are suitable locations for solar wind farms, that do not intersect residential or wetland areas. Further analysis can determine if the land is vacant or not, and how many acres are available to build a solar wind farm. 

Click Here to view the suitable locations for a solar wind farm in Middleboro and Kingston, Massachusetts, on a ArcGIS Online Web Application. 

The following Google Map shows the suitable locations on residential land in Kingston, Massachusetts:


The following Google Map shows the most suitable locations in Kingston, Massachusetts:


The following Google Map shows the suitable locations on residential land in Middleboro, Massachusetts:


The following Google Map shows the most suitable locations in Middleboro, Massachusetts: