By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — As of last month, no new solar project applications will be accepted in the Town of Casco. 

That is because there is a Solar Moratorium in place.

Of course, the two previously approved solar farm projects are grandfathered-in, and so is the project with Revision Energy to build a solar field on the property of the Casco-Naples Transfer Station. 

Most likely, the Solar Moratorium — which is valid for 180 days, will come before this town’s residents during a Special Town Meeting in January. 

The next timeline is the Annual Town Meeting in June. It is hoped that by then a proposed solar ordinance will be ready for voters. If approved, the ordinance would replace the Solar Moratorium. On the other hand, if an ordinance is not passed or it not prepared in time, the Solar Moratorium could be extended for another 180 days. 

During its meeting on Nov. 1, the Casco Board of Selectmen decided not to put the moratorium in place until the Casco Planning Board had a chance to weigh in on the language of the moratorium.

Then, on Nov. 15, the selectmen agreed, 4-0, with the planning board’s recommendation to adopt the moratorium until a suitable Solar Energy Ordinance is drafted.

Mary-Vienessa Fernandes was not present for the vote. 

Casco Town Manager Anthony “Tony” Ward provided the board with an explanation of the solar moratorium.  

“It is an ordinance that would put a ban on commercial solar projects for 180 days. If you are not familiar with moratoriums, it has to be approved at town meeting. It’s only good for 180 days. The select-board does have the authority to extend the ordinance for another 180 days,” Ward said. 

“The planning board was hoping to have some type of ordinance that is location based or zoning based at June’s town meeting,” he said. 

In order for a moratorium to be 100% valid, the majority of voters at town meeting must say yes, making it retroactive to the date the selectmen approved it, he said.  

“The 180-day moratorium needs to be approved at town meeting or special town meeting. It can be retroactive from whenever you hold the special town meeting,” he said. 

The town manager informed the board that it also could postpone the decision until its next meeting in December. 

The planning board had met on the Monday before the selectmen convened.  

The planning board is “definitely working on zoning with solar not because they are opposed to solar, but the town lacks zoning for it,” Ward said.

Planning Board member Ryan McAllister spoke

“We had an opportunity to review this [moratorium] last night. We voted unanimously to accept this verbiageand get it on to you guys,” McAllister said.  

Selectman Scott Avery spoke. 

“It is something that is going to be a benefit to us sooner than later,” he said.  

“If this could go in January with it starting today, I would support that,”Avery said.

Someone who was 

A person in the audience identified himself as Dave Fowler. He owns the business Next Phase Energy Services. 

“I am caught in pinch. I am not opposed to moratoriums as long as they are sound,” he said.  

He had two potential projects in Casco that are in the very early stages of development. Fowler asked if the areas of town where he was considering putting in solar would be allowed in the proposed ordinance.

“We wouldn’t have a real idea of whether or not your project would meet an ordinance or not because we don’t have an ordinance to compare it to,” McAllister said.

“We will be having a meeting to discuss the meat and potatoes of this proposed ordinance,” he said.

He said public input would be helpful in crafting the ordinance. Fowler volunteered to participate.