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Hallowell council sends commercial solar siting options to Conservation Commission
Summary
The council unanimously referred a memo on commercial and community solar siting — including battery storage considerations and potential moratoriums or prohibitions — to the Conservation Commission for detailed recommendations and asked the planning and code enforcement offices to be consulted.
The Hallowell City Council referred a staff memo outlining options for siting commercial solar and associated battery storage facilities to the Conservation Commission for detailed review and recommendations.
The memo, presented by staff, highlights aesthetic concerns, the town’s compact six‑square‑mile area and the comprehensive plan’s directive to balance open‑space protection with alternative-energy projects. Council members discussed templates from neighboring towns, the possibility of a moratorium while an ordinance is drafted, and whether to treat battery facilities as part of the siting ordinance because of their visual and land‑use impacts.
A representative from Perennial Renewables described a proposed 2.5‑acre project tucked to the rear of a site and answered technical questions about scale and screening. Councilors asked that the Conservation Commission include input from the planning board and code enforcement office; the council also suggested the utility (Central Maine Power) be invited to explain interconnection procedures.
The motion to refer the draft ordinance and battery-site considerations to the Conservation Commission passed unanimously. Councilors said they expect the commission to return recommended ordinance language or siting criteria for later council consideration.
