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West Bath voters approve easement for 1 MW solar project along King’s Highway
Summary
At a Dec. 18 special town meeting, West Bath voters authorized the select board to grant access and utility easements to West Bath Tunnel Solar LLC and Central Maine Power to serve a 1 MW solar array; the measure passed unanimously after a presentation and Q&A on site access, decommissioning and financial terms.
Voters at a Dec. 18, 2025 special town meeting in West Bath unanimously authorized the select board to execute access and utility easements to West Bath Tunnel Solar LLC and Central Maine Power on a narrow town parcel at the edge of King’s Highway to serve a 1 megawatt AC ground‑mounted solar project on nearby land (map R1, lot 13).
The project representative, identified in the meeting as Jeff, told voters the project’s site plan, approved by the planning board in February 2024, calls for a 1 MW array—about enough generation to power roughly 270 homes—and that the town parcel at the access point measures about 66 feet by 450 feet. The company said a later survey uncovered the small town parcel inside the planned access corridor and that the easement request is non‑exclusive and would also allow Central Maine Power (CMP) to place and maintain utility poles on the parcel.
Jeff said the applicant has provided easement documents to the town attorney, met with the select board about a month earlier and held a public hearing two weeks before the special meeting. The applicant offered to cover the town’s special‑meeting costs and attorney fees and proposed a $1,500 one‑time payment for the easement. He also described a proposed net energy billing arrangement for the town’s and the school’s electric accounts, estimating roughly $45,000 in savings for the town and about $93,000 for the school over the first 20 years of the arrangement.
Residents asked questions during the presentation and Q&A. Michael Hennessy asked whether communications (telephone or cable) were included in the easement language; Jeff replied that the easement documents cover access and utilities and that there are two separate easement agreements reflected in the materials given to the town attorney. On decommissioning, Jeff said projects in Maine are required to have an approved decommissioning plan and provide financial assurance—typically a bond or letter of credit—approved by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection; he said the system owner, not the town, is responsible for decommissioning and must secure funds before construction.
On term and operations, Jeff said the lease for the array is 25 years with three five‑year extension options (allowing up to 40 years total if exercised) and that operation and maintenance agreements are typical so the system owner will perform routine upkeep, including any cleaning needed to maintain output. He said many array components—steel, glass and other metals—are recyclable at end of life.
After discussion the moderator called for a vote on Article 2; the article passed by a unanimous vote. Earlier in the meeting, voters had nominated and sworn in David P. Hennessy as moderator for the special meeting. The assembly then moved to adjourn.
