Solar farm application leads to discussion of local ordinance

BLUE HILL—On Monday, November 16, members of Blue Hill select and planning boards discussed the pros and cons of amending the existing Commercial Site Plan Review Ordinance to address commercial solar farms, versus developing and adopting a separate commercial solar farm ordinance.

- JEFFREY B. ROTH

The joint meeting was called in response to a November 9 planning board review of a commercial site plan review of a solar farm proposed for a wooded property located along York Road in East Blue Hill submitted by Blue Hill Solar LLC/Borrego Solar. The 50.76-acre wooded site is owned by the Dethier family.

A group of about a dozen York Road residents formed an association and retained attorney Kristin Collins to oppose the project. Clear-cutting, scenic impact, soil erosion, habitat impact, and other issues form the basis of the group’s opposition to the project.

The estimated $1 million project calls for clear-cutting about 20 acres of forest to accommodate about 10,300 solar panels mounted on a Terrasmart racking system, according to project engineer Ryan Bailey. The company will sell power to a group of private and public entities within the Versant Power service territory.