North Brookfield 2.5MW Solar Project

Mass. Electric Construction Co. (MEC) crews worked on the installation of a 2.5MW ground mounted solar photovoltaic system in North Brookfield, MA. Working as a subcontractor for Gehrlicher Solar America Corp. (Gehrlicher), MEC crews installed the following:

• 8,536 modules
• RBI racking system
• Four (4) 500kW inverters
• Data Acquisition System (DAS) and Weather Station
• 20,135 LF of underground conduit
• 39,764 LF of feeder cable

The installation is located on a former apple orchard, which was repurposed for the new solar PV system. While preparing the site for the racking system, MEC crews discovered poison ivy plants covering the work area. Work was immediately halted, and the entire site was shut down. A professional landscaping service came in and sprayed and removed the plants.

When work resumed, crews had an extra step in their R.E.D. books – each morning they had to prepare their clothing, gloves and boots with a protective spray, and at the end of the workday spray and clean them in order to keep from potentially spreading the allergen to themselves or others. Despite the three-day shutdown and some rain delays, only minimal adjustments to the project schedule were required.

The project was completed in August 2013.