Buckfield Select Board adopts 180‑day moratorium on commercial solar development; schedules Dec. 2 special town meeting

The Town of Buckfield Select Board on Nov. 18 approved a 180‑day moratorium on commercial solar facility development and voted to place the moratorium on a special town meeting warrant for Dec. 2, 2025.

Speaker 3 framed the moratorium as a temporary pause implemented as an ordinance under state statute and said the draft adds an enforcement clause designating the code enforcement officer to enforce the moratorium. The moratorium would pause permitting and development of commercial solar energy facilities for 180 days, with an option for the board to extend it another 180 days before expiration.

Board members discussed public confusion after earlier votes, including concerns that some residents thought a moratorium equaled approval of solar farms. Speaker 4 said commercial solar projects do not necessarily produce significant additional tax revenue unless the town establishes distinct zoning or assessment rules. Speaker 3 noted the town lacks an established process for assessing solar facilities and recommended researching fair market valuation and assessor approaches before future action.

Speaker 2 moved to approve the commercial solar energy facility moratorium with the changes discussed (including simplifying the title to avoid confusion); Speaker 3 seconded and the motion passed by voice vote. The board then reviewed and approved the special town meeting warrant language required by state statute to present the moratorium to voters on Dec. 2, 2025. Copies of the moratorium will be attached to the warrant and posted online and in town offices ahead of the meeting.