Buckfield will ask voters to consider moratorium on solar projects

BUCKFIELD – A special town meeting will be held Oct. 29 to vote on implementing a 180-day moratorium on commercial solar projects.

The start will be at 6:30 pm, at City Hall.

At this week’s Select Board meeting, officials said the delay in such projects is necessary so the city can get ahead of the growing number of commercial solar farms across the state and determine how the city should regulate potential projects.

“What we are asking the city to vote on is a moratorium ordinance on commercial solar energy installations,” said Councilwoman Sandra Fickett. “And especially what this says is that any proposed solar project that is not already underway will be put on hold until the Planning Board creates an ordinance for the city to vote on establishing the parameters of future commercial solar installations.”

The moratorium is one of two issues voters will consider. The other proposal will extend the deadline for the first IPTU payment by one month – from November 15th to December 15th.

City Manager Cameron Hinkley proposed the change due to a computer glitch that delayed the issuance of property tax bills. Hinkley called it unfair to give residents just a few weeks to pay the first half of their taxes.

The final payment date would remain May 15, 2025.

In other business, the council approved Hinkley’s appointment as the town’s representative on the Maine Waste to Energy board of directors. The board also approved the appointments of Catherine Pomerleau as elections secretary and John Petrocelli as an alternate member on the Planning Board.

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