Maine agency fines Fryeburg Solar $204K for damaging environment

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 6, 2026

New Jersey-based Fryeburg Solar jumped the gun in 2021 by starting work at the 45-acre site before it got final approvals and demonstrated that it could afford to decommission the facility if needed. State inspectors found construction crews exposed more land at one time than allowed, failed to maintain erosion controls and winter construction standards and let sediment and soil runoff pollute wetlands, streams, properties and nearby Lovewell Pond. The runoff problems began in 2021 and, despite repeated state inspections, violations persisted. In December 2025, DEP declared the restoration a success and began drawing up a civil penalty of $204,499. If approved, the Fryeburg Solar deal will be the sixth consent agreement of 2026.