WCSH-TV6 • December 8, 2022
Balancing the demand for clean energy generated by solar farms and protecting habitats already threatened by climate change could be taken up by Maine lawmakers in January. Conservation organizations, sportsmen, and agricultural and solar developers are working together as a coalition to come up with rules to minimize the environmental impact of the booming solar industry. Solar developers must follow state regulations to minimize potential damage to protected areas such as wetlands, streams, and vernal pools. There is support for adding forests and farmland to the process as part of new legislation. The proposal could also incentivize farmers and developers to build solar projects on land contaminated by PFAS that are not tillable.