On December 30, 2025, a quiet transformation began on the border of Franklin and Bellingham, Massachusetts. The Maplegate Country Club, a beloved 18-hole public golf course that had served the community since 1988, was sold for nearly $25 million. The buyer? Not another developer with plans for luxury homes or a shopping center, but San Francisco-based NextGrid Inc., a private solar energy developer with an ambitious vision for the 140-acre site. According to reporting from Worcester Business Journal and American Commercial Real Estate, this sale marks a dramatic shift in land use—and a new chapter for both the local community and the state’s renewable energy ambitions.
The plan is as bold as it is timely: Maplegate’s rolling greens and fairways will soon give way to two massive 15-megawatt solar photovoltaic systems. Once operational, this installation will be among the largest solar arrays in Massachusetts, providing clean energy to 6,000 income-eligible households. Over the lifespan of the project’s contracts, these families are projected to save more than $30 million in energy costs—a significant financial relief for many, especially as utility bills continue to climb across New England.
“This project represents a major investment in renewable energy across Massachusetts and reflects the growing role of private capital in supporting sustainable infrastructure,” said Joseph Evans, Vice President of American Commercial Real Estate, in a statement reported by Wicked Local. The deal, which closed at $24,837,920, wasn’t just a matter of signing paperwork; it required careful navigation of permitting processes in both Franklin and Bellingham, plus extensive coordination with municipal boards and local stakeholders. Evans emphasized the complexity, noting, “The transaction required careful navigation of permitting processes across Franklin and Bellingham, and extensive coordination with municipal boards and stakeholders throughout the region.”
For Franklin and Bellingham, the benefits are more than environmental. The country club had long been taxed under Chapter 61B, a Massachusetts statute that encourages recreational land use by offering tax incentives. But as a solar energy site, the property will be taxed at a higher rate, generating up to $280,000 in new annual tax revenue for Franklin alone, with Bellingham also set to gain. Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen sees the change as a positive for both towns, explaining, “It’s kind of a win-win as we move forward. For both Bellingham and Franklin, we will see some property tax revenue from it, and it’s going to supply energy for 6,000 low-income households. Any way we can help out families is good.”
The French family, who owned and operated Maplegate since its opening in 1988, leaves behind a legacy that many local golfers will miss. Hellen took a moment to acknowledge their contribution: “I want to acknowledge the history of the French family and recognize the many decades that site was a golf course. I know many golfers will be disappointed by it closing.” Yet, as Dusty Burke, president of American Commercial Real Estate, pointed out, the change underscores how communities can benefit from large-scale solar projects in ways that go beyond nostalgia. “This sale marks an exciting new chapter for Franklin, both environmentally and economically,” Burke said. “It shows how large-scale solar projects can benefit municipalities in meaningful ways, creating a long-lasting impact for the local economy while contributing to our clean energy future.”
This local shift toward renewable energy is just one piece of a much larger puzzle playing out on the global stage. On January 8, 2026, the European Energy Exchange (EEX)—the world’s largest electricity derivatives platform—announced a major leadership change as it continues to shape the future of energy trading. Tobias Paulun, who currently heads EEX’s clearing house, European Commodity Clearing (ECC), will become the new CEO effective August 1, 2026. He steps into the role after Peter Reitz, who has led EEX for 15 years and will remain on the supervisory boards of EEX subsidiaries Nodal and EPEX SPOT.
EEX, part of Deutsche Boerse, commands a staggering market share of 80-90% in its core European futures marketplaces, where traded volumes can reach two to three times the region’s annual power consumption. Its reach extends beyond Europe, with operations in North America and Japan—regions where the power sector is poised for significant growth. The exchange’s clearing house, ECC, plays a crucial role by reducing counterparty risks and guaranteeing the physical and financial execution of trades on EEX, EPEX SPOT, and partner exchanges.
The appointment of Paulun signals continuity and ambition for the exchange. As Thomas Book, chairman of the EEX supervisory board, put it, “With him (Paulun), we will successfully continue the EEX’s growth trajectory in the coming years.” Paulun himself is clear about his vision: “Together, we will continue to actively shape the development of the energy markets in order to offer our customers optimal trading opportunities and efficient solutions for their risk management.”
Since the 2008 financial crisis, the energy sector has seen a shift from over-the-counter commodity trading to regulated exchanges like EEX, driven in part by European Union financial rules and the need to reduce costs and risks. The ECC’s role in guaranteeing trades has become indispensable, especially as energy markets grow more complex and interconnected. The EEX statement noted that the ECC has already begun searching for Paulun’s replacement, signaling a smooth transition in leadership.
What connects these two stories—one local, one global—is the accelerating momentum behind renewable energy and the evolving infrastructure that supports it. In Massachusetts, the transformation of Maplegate Country Club into a solar powerhouse is a microcosm of the broader shift toward sustainability. The project’s ability to deliver both environmental benefits and tangible economic gains—lower energy costs for thousands of families, increased tax revenue for towns—demonstrates the multifaceted value of clean energy investments.
Meanwhile, at the helm of EEX, Paulun will be navigating a rapidly changing landscape where trading platforms, risk management, and regulatory compliance are more critical than ever. His commitment to expanding EEX’s global network of customers and partners reflects the growing interdependence of energy markets from Massachusetts to Leipzig and beyond.
For residents of Franklin and Bellingham, the coming months will bring the end of an era as Maplegate’s greens give way to solar panels. For the energy industry at large, the leadership change at EEX marks another step in the ongoing evolution of how power is generated, traded, and delivered. Both stories offer a window into a future where clean energy and innovative market solutions are not just aspirations, but realities reshaping communities and economies alike.
As the sun sets on one chapter and rises on another, the impact of these changes—locally and globally—will be watched closely by those with a stake in the world’s energy future.
