WATERTOWN — Convalt Energy can now start work in determining whether an abandoned hydroelectric plant on Sewall’s Island can provide energy for the company’s proposed solar panel manufacturing facility.
By a 4-1 vote, the City Council approved a license agreement that will allow the energy company to determine if the old hydro plant can be redeveloped and used again. The city owns the island.
Councilman Cliff G. Olney voted no.
Michael Wiser, the company’s chief strategist, said afterward that Convalt has hired a company to conduct research on the project.
“They can move forward and get going with it,” he said.
Convalt will immediately start working on a preliminary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license that would allow a hydro plant at the site, he said.
The company will be required to give a status report on the FERC license every six months, Mr. Wiser said. City Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero made that request also as a requirement to the agreement with the city.
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