FRANKLIN – A golf course along the Franklin–Bellingham town line has reportedly been sold to a solar energy developer. The Franklin Observer reports the 140-acre Maplegate Country Club has been sold for nearly $25 million to a developer planning to build two 15-megawatt solar photovoltaic systems, a project that could become one of the largest solar installations in Massachusetts.
The change in use from a golf course to an industrial solar facility also carries a financial benefit for the Town of Franklin. With the property now classified for industrial use, Franklin will be able to collect property taxes, which officials say could bring in approximately $280,000 per year in new revenue for the town.
