Landfill Solar Project in Bellingham, Mass., Underway

The town, Fraine said, benefits from the array in two ways: through leasing the land to the green energy firm and through taxes on the equipment there.

"There is a $105,000 first-year lease payment, and there's a tax on the personal property as well," he said, estimating the town would see a revenue of $225,000 in the project's first year. He added that it was a good return on land that would not otherwise have much use.

Fraine noted that the project was private - and he therefore did not know exactly when it would be completed - but added that he believes it will go online sometime this fall.

The town will not, Fraine said, see a net-metering energy discount from the landfill project. Municipal buildings that receive power from National Grid are already covered under a different agreement.