MECHANIC FALLS — Code Enforcement Officer Alan Plummer said Tuesday that New England Solar Garden is interested in developing another farm in town.
The potential site is 65 acres of town property off Winterbrook Road, above the aquifer that supplies town water. The town well however, is not included in the site.
The solar energy firm, based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, got approval in June to assemble 9,288 solar panels over nearly 10 of the 42.65 acres on 90 North St.
Plummer said the firm contacted the town the day after the Town Council voted against imposing a 180-day moratorium on development of commercial alternative energy facilities.
The moratorium ordinance had been requested by the Planning Board to give the town time to write regulations to control siting, installation and operation of such facilities.
Representatives of the firm inquired what large tracts of town land would be suitable for a solar farm. Plummer said they were not interested in town property behind the transfer station off Route 26.
Last year, California-based NextGrid Renewable Energy was given the go-ahead to build a $5.1 million solar farm off South Main Street/Route 11 behind Timber Lane, extending toward Goss Farm on Elm Street. While the sale involved 37.8 acres, construction of the proposed 14,031 solar panels will be only on 19.96 acres.
Green Lantern Solar of Waterbury, Vermont, has also shown interest in building a solar farm on Lewiston Street, but has not formally applied, according to Plummer.
The Planning Board has scheduled a meeting for Monday, Aug. 23, at 6:30 p.m. with the aim of drafting ordinances pertaining to alternative energy facilities.
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