December 12, 2025
A former EPA Superfund site got a facelift thanks to a new solar and storage facility that transformed a contaminated property in Acton, Massachusetts, into a solution to meet grid resiliency goals.
Distributed energy infrastructure (DEI), an EPC provider for large-scale solar and storage projects, recently completed a new 7.1 MW solar + 4 MW battery storage project in Acton, located on land previously occupied by a chemical manufacturing facility. The project site was previously designated an EPC Superfund site due to significantly contaminated soil, including asbestos.
“Projects like Acton demonstrate what it takes to responsibly bring clean energy to communities while addressing the challenges associated with building on historically contaminated land,” said Sean Harrington, president and CEO of Distributed Energy Infrastructure. “By transforming a brownfield into a productive solar and storage site, we expand access to renewable energy, strengthen the local grid and put otherwise unusable land back to work.”
Strict safeguards
The innovative approach of DEI and its project partners, owner Syncarpha capital and rack supplier Terrace marttook an innovative approach to developing the project. To ensure safe construction on the site, DEI has implemented strict environmental and health safeguards:
- Crews trained in handling hazardous materials in Hazwoper followed specialized health and safety protocols.
- Excavations were kept to a minimum, with electrical infrastructure designed mainly above ground to avoid disturbance to contaminated soils.
- The system is designed around existing structures, including old concrete slabs, to reduce site disruption.
- DEI coordinated with six regulatory agencies and established contingency plans to address any discoveries of hazardous materials.
- When asbestos was discovered, certified specialists were brought in to analyze, document and remove all hazardous material under the supervision of the regulator.
Renew brownfields
As a brownfield project on previously unusable land, the Acton project will deliver significant community and environmental benefits. It repurposes a contaminated Superfund site for productive use, preserves farmland and open space, and created nearly 40 local jobs during construction. The project provides renewable energy through a community solar model combined with battery storage, increasing the resilience of the local electricity grid. It also expands the city’s tax base through new revenue and support Massachusetts’ SMART and Clean Peak Standard goalsbecause it reduces pressure on the electricity grid during seasonal peaks.
“Brownfield redevelopment is a powerful way to expand access to clean energy while addressing the legacy of industrial pollution,” said Graeme Dutkowsky of Syncarpha Capital. “This project demonstrates how DEI’s thoughtful, safety-focused approach to building brownfield solar projects can transform an underutilized site into a long-term source of reliable energy and local economic value.”
Solar builder has named the Acton solar + storage project as a finalist for the 2025 Project of the Year Awards in the 1 MW to 10 MW category.
Tags: brownfields, Community Solar, solar energy + storage, Terrasmart
