BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 27, 2021
Citing concerns about the potential for overdevelopment from solar power projects, Ellsworth has adopted a 6-month moratorium on permit applications for medium and large solar farms in the city. Elena Piekut, Ellsworth’s city planner, said Tuesday that there are six solar farms planned for Ellsworth that have received city approval for development, but construction has not started on all of them. All together, the six sites are expected to occupy roughly 130 acres. Just across the city line in the town of Hancock, on land owned by Merrill’s Blueberry Farms along Washington Junction Road, a 20-megawatt project is under construction. in Township 16 near the Washington County line, Swift Current Energy plans to bring the Three Rivers Solar 100-megawatt project online in 2023.