Sep 18, 2024
TRENTON—The moratorium on medium- and large-scale solar energy system development in Trenton has been extended another 180 days.
The decision came in a quick ten-minute meeting of Trenton’s select board, Tuesday night.
The current solar moratorium expires October 5. It was moved to extend another 180 days or until an amendment dealing with solar developments in the town is adopted. The town currently has a working committee looking into potential changes.
There are three solar farms in process already under the town’s existing ordinance. Their combined land use is approximately 60 acres.
The last proposed ordinance change would have allowed solar farms to comprise up to 30-acre lots in residential districts. The Planning Board had revised the town’s current solar ordinance, hoping to address a citizen push toward limiting commercial solar developments or solar farms.
Residents against those ordinance changes had formed a citizen’s group called Neighbors Against More Large Scale Solar Development. Trenton voters soundly rejected those changes by a vote of 180-50 in May.
The original moratorium came after a developer proposed creating a 70-megawatt solar farm near the town’s industrial park. Approximately 300 acres of land would have been cleared. The Maryland-based company also discussed a potential tax increment financing (TIF) agreement for the project. TIFs enable a town or city to keep property tax revenue outside the state’s revenue sharing formula used for state’s education funding. The town can then use that money for credit enhancements with the property owner instead. It’s a kind of tax break meant to incentivize development.
It’s not the first moratorium Trenton has had as it has tried to regulate solar energy projects. An earlier moratorium occurred in 2020. That moratorium allowed the town to create regulations that define projects as small, medium, or large.
A working group has been created that includes Selectman Charles Farley and six citizens. Five citizens are working members and one is an alternate: Jeanetta Peabody, Steve Eddy, Greg Askins, Emily Muise, Christina Heiniger, and the alternate is Maria Gott.
There will be a workshop on solar, October 2, at 7 p.m. at the Trenton Town Office. It will not be on Zoom.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board also approved the state’s general assistance guideline. People who want to apply for general assistance may do so at the Trenton Town Office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, by appointment, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
LINKS
https://www.trentonme.com/select-board-agendas/
Trenton’s general assistance application
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