Royalston Solar Landfill RFP

The Town of Royalston, Massachusetts is requesting proposals from qualified renewable energy developers to design, finance, construct, operate, and decommission solar generating facilities (SGF) at the Royalston Landfill located at 6 Town Dump Road, with proposals due October 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST and a mandatory pre-proposal site visit required on or before September 24, 2026.

The Town seeks either site lease agreements, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), or alternative financial structures that provide municipal benefits. Facility capacity is proposed at 1 to 6 MW AC with lease terms not exceeding 30 years. The RFP is conducted under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30B Section 16.

Proposer qualifications are substantial: the primary engineer must hold current Massachusetts Professional Engineer (Civil) registration with at least ten years' experience; all primary staff and subcontractors require seven years of directly related experience; and proposers must document completion of at least three similar projects, including at least three utility-scale solar projects currently operating in New England and at least one project on a landfill or previously disturbed area. Proposers must provide certificates of insurance including $5 million Commercial General Liability per occurrence, $1 million Automobile Liability, and Pollution Liability, naming the Town as additional insured.

The plan of services may not exceed twenty pages and must address project timelines assuming Spring 2027 start, permitting and regulatory familiarity, conceptual site plans, detailed project schedules, proposed financial structures, forest clearing plans, and landfill protection strategies. The developer bears all interconnection costs with no guarantee of capacity availability; the Town retains 100 percent net stumpage value of merchantable timber. Decommissioning financial security must be established as an irrevocable letter of credit, surety bond, performance bond, or escrow account, reviewed and updated every five years. The Town reserves the right to conduct interviews with up to three finalist proposers and may award up to sixty days after proposal due date. The anticipated award date is December 17, 2026.