Calling members of town boards and committees, town staff, local elected officials, and interested community members!

Maine Farmland Trust and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) are hosting an informational forum for municipal officials to explore how towns can support solar development while minimizing impacts to valuable agricultural resources.

Register for the Zoom presentation & discussion here

The presentation will review highlights from the new resource Balancing Solar Development & Farmland Protection: A Solar Siting Guide for Maine Towns, including why this issue matters, general agricultural solar siting guidelines, and case studies on how the communities of Auburn, Readfield and Topsham developed a solar ordinance and what lessons they have learned so far. Maine DACF will provide additional state-level perspective on the issue of balanced solar siting, and we will be joined by representatives from the City of Auburn, the Town of Readfield, and the Town of Topsham for a panel discussion and questions.

Presenters:

• Thacher Carter, Municipal Policy Associate, Maine Farmland Trust
• Abby Farnham, Senior Policy & Research Associate, Maine Farmland Trust
• Nancy McBrady, Bureau Director, Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources Director, Maine DACF

Panelists:

• Eric Cousens, Director of Planning & Permitting, City of Auburn
• Henry Clauson, Readfield Planning Board, Town of Readfield
• Victor Langelo, Topsham Energy Committee and Chair of the Topsham Conservation Commission, Town of Topsham

Reach out to Thacher Carter, Maine Farmland Trust’s Municipal Policy Associate, with any questions at tcarter@mainefarmlandtrust.org or (207) 338-6575 ext. 409

Why is balanced solar siting important?

Solar energy generation and agriculture can co-exist in Maine in a mutually beneficial manner as long as solar development is sited in ways that minimize impacts to agricultural resources. Through thoughtful planning and policy development, towns can play a critical role in balancing support for solar energy generation with support for agricultural production and resilience. This municipal forum will explore the nuances of this issue by examining local ordinances and strategies in Maine and New England. The insight and information provided through this forum will be beneficial for any community that is considering how to both support solar development while protecting important agricultural resources. We hope you join us!