By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — The only way that members of the Naples Planning Board would warm up to the idea of a solar project off Route 35 is if the equipment could not be seen from Long Lake. 

This particular solar-energy plan was approved with several conditions, including mitigating the noise from the inverters should it be louder than 50 decibels.   

During the discussion, the property-owner who is seeking to develop her land for alternative energy expressed her frustration. Deborah Martin said she felt like the planning board was grilling the project coordinators and giving them a more difficult time than those people involved in other projects. 

In September, BWC Brandy Pond, LLC, the group seeking permission to put in a 19-acre solar farm at 281 Harrison Road came before the planning board after a site walk.

At that time, approval was denied because some of the equipment would be visible from Long Lake. More accurately, the site plan was sent back to the applicant for modifications to be in line with the town’s ordinance. That happened on Sept. 7. 

The Naples Solar Energy Ordinance forbids projects in which the solar arrays — or any other portion of solar-energy equipment — is visible from major bodies of water within the town’s boundaries.     

On Dec. 7, BWC Brandy Pond presented a modified project with 1,000 less solar panels and new viewscape analysis that predicted the equipment would not be seen from the Causeway, any major roads or from any part of Long Lake. Also, the acreage being used shifted, skirting away from the uphill areas and going horizontal — to change the elevation above the lake.

“There is not much to look at — if there were, I wouldn’t be here,” according to BlueWave’s Managing Director of Solar Development Alan Robertson.

On the television in the meeting room, he flipped through images from the viewscape analysis.

“From the Causeway, not visible. From Long Lake, not visible. From Pine Island, not visible,” he said.

Additionally, as was part of the original plan, there would be landscaping buffers between the abutters and the farm. 

“The screening plan we are proposing is a staggered row of evergreens, non invasive, locally sourced, with a minimum of two years warranty,” Robertson said. 

Ultimately, the board approved the solar energy project with several conditions. Those conditions were: Prior to issuing a building permit, the company must present a decommissioning plan if the solar field doesn’t create electricity for 12 months. If any part of the solar equipment becomes visible, the company would mitigate the visibility either by lowering the panels or creating a landscaping berm. If the sound from the inverters is more than 50 decibels, hoods would be placed over the inverters. If there is any change of ownership, the amended site plan would come back to the Naples Board of Selectmen and/or the town manager. Also, the applicant must provide an annual stormwater review to code enforcement office. 

Prior to the vote, board members asked about the noise from inverters, the distance of the inverters from the closest abutter, a backup plan should the equipment become visible from the lake or road, and about the bond (insured money) backing up the cost of decommissioning the solar farm.  

“Thirty (30) years from now the panels could have toxic waste, and the cost to remove them has skyrocketed,” Planning board member Larry Anton said. 

Robertson said that the decommission plan has to be updated every five years, and the money set aside for clean-up has to keep up with inflation. This is required as part of the state’s solar-energy law.

He explained that the materials and chemicals used in solar equipment has changed over the years. 

“It’s not the stuff that gave the industry a bad rap,” Robertson said. 

Deborah Martin, the owner of the parcel to be used as a solar farm, spoke. 

“With the other solar projects, have been asking these questions? Some of you seem to understand what solar is, and some of you don’t,” Martin said. 

She said that solar equipment does not generate much noise, and she didn’t understand why the board was making it into an issue.

“There seems to be such a hestitation to this whole process, and I don’t understand it. The way electricity is going up in this area,

Naples doesn’t have a very futuristic view of the world,” Martin said. “This is a much cleaner and nicer way for Maine to make its electricity. You guys have pulled these guys through the wringer.”

“I didn’t pick a company that I don’t believe would be truthful and honest with you,” Martin said, adding that she had first-hand experience with the company since her daughter was employed there.

The Town of Naples has an ordinance allowing cell towers, she said. She would rather see solar equipment than a cell tower. She said she wouldn’t degrade the land.

“When you sit here and ask questions and questions and ask stupid questions,” she said.

At that point, the Code Enforcement Assistant Jennifer Leeman said Martin had reached the three-minute limit for public comment. 

Next up to the podium was Jim Grattelo, the chairman of the Naples Board of Selectmen.

“The town of Naples and the select board has just passed a moratorium on solar for the next six months so that we can ask the right questions. For someone to sit here and say you ask stupid questions is ridiculous,” he said. 

He said it was the board’s job to ask the tough questions. He said because of the board’s requests, the project was down-sized to include 1,000 less panels and was not longer using the height of the land on the parcel.