PEABODY — The sun will come out tomorrow, but you can bet your bottom dollar there won't be any Solar farms in Peabody to soak it up.

At least not for a while.

Mayor Ted Bettencourt, who recently vetoed a plan to allow Onyx Renewable Partners to install a bank of solar panels on Warren Street Extension, is continuing talks with the company to find a suitable location for the project.

"I do believe this is an important project for a variety of reasons," he said, citing the environmental benefits as well the advantage in providing a new source of energy to the Peabody Municipal Light Plant. The project was originally proposed for a site adjacent to the plant. 

The mayor had supported the City Council's initial vote on Oynx's plan on March 31, speaking out personally and even promising to answer any Resident complaints. The Council responded with a unanimous vote in favor.

But that led to a small revolt by those living near the proposed site. Some mounted a Facebook campaign to stop the project.

"I started to hear from the residents," Bettencourt said. The fact that so many of them hadn't been at the council hearing to offer opposition because they hadn't been notified of the project, seemed to bolster their complaints. Thus, the mayor felt compelled to veto it. Roughly two dozen residents then appeared at the council's meeting May 12 to witness the council unanimously sustain the mayor's veto.

A second potential location, Old County Road — which is located behind the Pulaski Street industrial park and neighboring homes — was dropped in the face of neighborhood opposition back in March.

For the future, Bettencourt is focused on locating solar panels on city-owned Rooftops. "This is a project I believe in," he said. A survey of the city's rooftops is underway, looking for those that might be suitable. Among the possibilities: The high School, the still under construction Higgins Middle School, some elementary schools, and the Department of Public Services building on Farm Avenue.

Regarding school buildings, "The School Committee would have to approve," Bettencourt added.

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