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Solar power ordinance to go before voters at special town meeting

5 mins read
The Farmington Board of Selectmen review an ordinance that would regulate solar power projects. Left to right is Selectman Stephan Bunker, Chair Joshua Bell, Town Manager Richard Davis, Town Secretary Linda Grant. Selectman Matthew Smith and Selectman Michael Fogg.
The Farmington Board of Selectmen review an ordinance that would regulate solar power projects. Left to right is Selectman Stephan Bunker, Chair Joshua Bell, Town Manager Richard Davis, Town Secretary Linda Grant. Selectman Matthew Smith and Selectman Michael Fogg.

FARMINGTON – As developers discuss a proposed industrial-sized solar power project with the Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen is reviewing a new ordinance which would provide additional regulation for solar energy systems.

The board intends to sign a warrant at its next board meeting, scheduling a special town meeting for Nov. 22 at the Farmington Community Center. Voters will be asked to approve the solar energy systems ordinance, which was developed with the assistance of the Planning Board and Zoning Committee.

The new ordinance would classify solar energy systems as either residential, up to 2,000 square feet in surface area with a capacity of 20 kilowatts; commercial, with up to 20,000 square feet in size and 250 kilowatts; and industrial projects that could be up to 800 acres in size. Constructing a solar project would require an application to the Code Enforcement Office, with larger commercial and industrial-sized installations requiring permit applications and planning board approval.

The ordinance requires that the larger installations meet safety standards, notify abutters and set panel arrays at least 75 feet back property boundaries. The system would have to meet sound limits, not exceeding 50 decibels at the closest property lines for residential solar and 60 dB for the larger sites. Commercial and industrial site electrical and control equipment would need to be fenced off, with wiring and conductors installed underground, if possible.

Solar power systems would need to be removed if they did not produce any power for 12 consecutive months. While residential systems would simply need to be removed by the owner, larger installations would require the filing of a decommissioning plan which would include a “demonstration of financial assurance.” The goal, as selectmen said Tuesday night, was to avoid having infrastructure left behind after a facility stopped operating. Town Manager Richard Davis noted that the town has a similar approach for cell tower installations, ensuring the tower isn’t left to rust after it’s no longer useful.

Permit fees for solar systems would include $50 for residential systems and $500 for the larger, planning board-involved projects.

The smaller, residential systems could be installed in any part of the town, while the larger systems would not be allowed in the village/residential zoned sections. Practically speaking, Davis said Tuesday, there wasn’t adequate space for larger solar power installations in the village district anyway.

Selectmen said they liked the ordinance, asking questions and suggesting a few tweaks. Selectman Stephan Bunker suggested running the ordinance past the Farmington Fire Rescue, as solar cells on houses represented a potential challenge for firefighters. Central Maine Power often responds to structure fires to shut down power to the residence; such an action isn’t possible when solar cells are providing power.

The development of the ordinance occurs after Ranger Solar representatives appeared before the Planning Board with a proposal to create a 50- to 80-megawatt facility off Route 2, in the wooded area behind Sandy River Farms. CEO Steve Kaiser noted that Ranger Solar has not submitted a formal application to the Planning Board, or the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The latest iteration of the project, as presented on Oct. 17 to the board, would allow Sandy River Farms to continue operating as a farm.

The project would likely look to acquire permitting in 2017, Kaiser said, with construction starting in 2018, if approved. Ranger Solar is currently in the process of developing a 50-megawatt facility in Sanford.

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3 Comments

  1. Phew…. giant sigh of relief that those “noisy” solar panels will be monitored properly….

  2. I agree with @Scott Taylor. What noise? Any of you live within a mile or closer of a wind turbine? I’d rather they be replaced by solar panels. At least they can’t ruin my night when the sun is down and the wind is blowing.

  3. Regulate, Regulate, Regulate. It’s no wonder new businesses don’t want to come here. every town board puts up all of these rules to tell land owners how they can or cant use their own land.

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