WINCHENDON — Two town boards have voted to assign their right of first refusal for a 1,365-acre forested area to Mass Audubon, which has pledged to conserve the land.

The Winchendon Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to assign the town’s right of first refusal to the nonprofit at a meeting on Dec. 12. The Ashburnham Select Board made approved the same vote at its meeting on Dec. 19.

The land—which sits in Winchendon and Ashburnham—is owned by Winchendon Forest LLC, which had notified the towns that it intended to sell the property to Longroad Land Holdings for $6 million. Longroad Energy had proposed to clear 400 acres for solar panels, while leaving the remaining land intact. Panels would have been constructed on eight separate sites throughout the 400 acres.

The land is enrolled in the state’s Chapter 61 program, which enables owners of 10 or more contiguous acres of forest to pay taxes on its current use, as opposed to the commercial value, in exchange for a 10-year commitment to keep the land undeveloped. In the event that a proposal is made for the land, the town in which it sits has 120 days to exercise a right of first refusal to purchase it. Lacking the needed funds, buying the land was something the two towns simply could not do.

According to a press release from Mass Audubon, the organization had recently received a $25 million donation and offered to purchase the land for conservation. Athol-based Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust worked with Mass Audubon on a grassroots campaign to preserve the land.

“We are ecstatic to be an organization uniquely positioned to come to the table quickly with the

funding to take advantage of this once-in-a-generation conservation opportunity to battle climate

change and protect the rich biodiversity of our region,” said Mass Audubon President David O’Neill. “Seeing so many people actively speak up to protect the outdoors was incredibly moving and courageous, and I’m so proud of and thankful for our team, Mount Grace, and the people of Winchendon for their passion and forethought.”

Winchendon’s Board of Selectmen meeting

At the Winchendon meeting, the auditorium at Town Hall was filled to standing-room only. Following a presentation of Longroad Energy’s proposal, residents spoke for nearly two hours, asking the board to support conservation instead of development.

Wendy Gendron, a certified lake manager, aquatic ecologist and member of the Far Hills Association—which represents over 300 landowners in Winchendon and Ashburnham—said the impact of these decisions can last for decades.

“This isn’t just about renewable energy and income for the town, it’s about lasting, cumulative impacts and an ever-changing climate,” Gendron said. “It’s a vital, regional, connective space expanding over 83 square miles.”

Cliff Scher, director of development with Longroad Energy, foretasted revenues of approximately $20 million over the 40-year life of the solar panels. He added that the project would replace carbon emissions equal to sequestering 44,000 acres of forest.

“This would be a big step towards Massachusetts’ goals of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the 2030 reductions goals as well,” said Scher at the Winchendon meeting. “It would provide significant income to the town each and every year of operations.”

Sarah Wells, conservation director for Mount Grace, said that in these situations, towns rarely have a chance of exercising their right of first refusal due to the cost of purchasing the land. She added that the land was part of a much larger forested area. The land is directly connected to another 1,500 acres that are already protected, creating a forest corridor that reaches past Lake Monomonac to connect with protected lands in New Hampshire, according to information provided by Mass Audubon.

“We don’t think that unbroken corridor should be broken for solar,” Wells said. “We need solar, that’s a fact, but we need that solar to be appropriately sited. Having 400 acres of roads, fencing and panels will break that connectivity. Keeping 1,000 intact doesn’t help us when it comes to landscape connectivity.”

David Santomenna, director of land conservation for Mass Audubon, told the Winchendon board that it was not their intent to own the land.

“We’re concerned about the conversion of large-scale forest to solar,” he said.

Following the hearing, the board briefly discussed the matter prior to the vote. Vice-Chair Richard Ward described this as one of “the most tormenting decisions I had to make.” A lifelong resident of Winchendon, he said the town is in need of revenue, though he’s been in favor of selling and conserving the property.

“I look at the history of the town when it comes to making decisions and the master plan,” Ward said. “I go with my gut on what is best for the town. The founders of the town were stewards of the town.... Bottom line is I have to look at it as a lifelong resident. I can’t get rid of the trees and will support Mass Audubon on this issue.”

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or at mbowen@recorder.com.