A proposed solar array expansion in a Presque Isle neighborhood is sparking opposition by nearby homeowners.
After several residents spoke out against the project at the Presque Isle City Council meeting Wednesday, councilors considered whether to enact a moratorium on solar facility construction.
The pushback was against a proposal by Hari Achuthan of Convalt Energy, an international company with an office in East Millinocket, to expand an existing solar farm at 65 Longview Drive, which is in the suburban residential zone.
The property was purchased by Kevin Kinney sometime in 2021 and now belongs to Longview Drive Estates of Mapleton, according to city tax maps. The solar array was first installed approximately four years ago, when commercial solar facilities were permitted in the suburban area.
But in June 2024, the council voted not to permit any more solar farms in that zone. Achuthan has appealed to the Presque Isle Zoning Board for an exception to that rule. The hearing is slated for Tuesday, March 11.
During the council meeting, residents argued the current structure is an eyesore and threatens the environment, and they don’t want it enlarged.
“As you may know, there are some people trying to sneak a new solar array in from State Street down to Longview Drive,” Longview Drive resident Richard Engels said during the public comment period. “As you drive down Carmichael Street and some of the other streets in town, you’ll see how ugly these solar arrays are. Yeah, solar power is good, but I don’t think the citizens should have to put up with it next door.”
Tim Vernon, who also lives on Longview, said the serene view he and other neighbors enjoyed before the solar farm was built is now gone. In addition, the facility’s owner plowed snow and debris on his property, he said.
He fears his and other people’s property will be devalued if the solar farm expands, and also wonders about leached chemicals in groundwater if owners bury the panels when they’ve outlived their usefulness.
Neighbor Jim Carter was concerned for local wildlife, including a herd of deer that are known to inhabit the nearby woods off Longview.
Rather than allowing solar in residential areas, available land should be used to provide more housing in an area that sorely needs it, said Rick Duncan, who lives on State Street near Longview Drive and also raised environmental concerns.
“I believe solar generation is power that we need, but only if it’s located in the proper places — places that are less obtrusive and cause the least amount of aesthetic damage as possible,” he said.
Since last June, solar farms have not been permitted in Presque Isle’s suburban residential zones, City Manager Tyler Brown said. The appeal filed with the zoning board would grant an exception to that rule.
The council debated whether a moratorium on solar farms was necessary.
It’s hard to tell someone what they can and can’t do on land that they own, Councilor Doug Cyr said. Rather than deciding on a moratorium right away, the group should examine zoning regulations to understand what is allowed and where.
Councilor Craig Green said he was the one who asked for the moratorium, mostly to ensure that good agricultural land didn’t wind up in commercial solar entities.
“I don’t want to see any more farmland [that is] salable, usable farmland to go into use for solar, because there’s plenty of land that’s fallow, not good, that no one would care about that you could use for that kind of thing,” he said.
The problem isn’t with homeowners who want to put panels on their roofs, but with large commercial arrays, according to Green. He said the council should have a deep discussion before allowing any more solar sites within city boundaries.
Councilor Hank King suggested having the zoning and planning boards, together with the council, meet to figure out the best way to handle the proposed expansion, taking residents’ concerns into account.
The council took no action on the solar moratorium idea.
The meeting also included second public hearings on updated ordinances for traffic regulations, conduct in public park and recreation areas, and the bike and walkers’ path. There was no public input and councilors voted to accept the amendments, which included changing the term “public land” to “city-owned property” and establishing that Class I ebikes are the only ones allowed on the bike path.
Resource Development and Public Information Officer Kim Smith shared an update on grant funding.
During her 10-year tenure, the city has been awarded $10.2 million in grant funding, she said. Projects funded in 2024 included $400,000 from Maine DOT for culvert replacement, nearly $300,000 for siding at The Forum and $52,000 for fire department radios.
Most recently the city received $5,000 from the Maine Office of Tourism to help market a national car show later this year, along with $240,000 from the Northern Border Regional Commission to enlarge and renovate The Forum’s kitchen for large-scale events.
Smith is also working on a $5 million grant to help fund interior work at the forthcoming new Presque Isle International Airport terminal, and another $700,000 in grants are pending to benefit recycling, the fire department, arts programs and a generator for The Forum.
A special municipal election will be held on Tuesday, March 18, to fill the council’s empty seat, vacated in December with the death of Garry Nelson, City Clerk Kim Finnemore said. Voting will be held at the Sargent Family Community Center’s multipurpose room from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The next council meeting is planned at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, in council chambers at City Hall.
