BROOKS, Maine — As more renewable energy developments are emerging across Maine, one project is stirring up controversy in the Waldo County town of Brooks.
As a commercial solar energy farm is under construction in Brooks, the town is working to restrict future projects.
The project is being developed by Encore Renewable Energy, a Vermont-based commercial solar company. Leaders with Encore believe it will benefit the community.
"That energy that's generated there in Brooks is largely going to be consumed within the town of Brooks," Chad Farrell, Encore founder and co-CEO, said. "It's an energy security opportunity."
But not all in town share this enthusiasm.
"It’s a huge concern," Brooks resident John Magnussen said.
Magnussen has lived in his home in Brooks for 23 years. Now, the new solar farm is right across the street from his house.
Magnussen said he didn’t know about the project until the construction started a few months ago, and if he knew sooner, he would have sold his home.
"You know it’s the old story, until it’s in your yard, you don’t think about it," Magnussen said.
Magnussen added that he worries the new solar development will decrease the value of his property.
"The American dream is to buy a home, build up equity, which we've tried so hard to do, and now with this going in across the street, I don't see how we can get that equity back," Magnussen said.
He is one of many in town raising concerns.
"We are a town of less than 25 square miles, we don't have the space for that," resident Pamela Sawyer said. "It's a negative visually, it's a negative environmentally, and financially."
Amid the backlash about this solar farm, the town is working to make its solar guidelines more restrictive for future projects.
"Try to thread that needle of protecting people's property rights but also protecting the town and the way that it looks and the way that it works for the people that live there," Chris Quimby, Brooks' planning board chair, said.
The Brooks Planning Board tried to pass an ordinance to do this, but residents voted it down, many wanting commercial solar farms in town to be prohibited completely.
"How does that benefit us? I don't see that at all," Magnussen said.
The Brooks Planning Board is working on a second draft of the ordinance to restrict large-scale solar developments. Its next meeting to discuss it is Sept. 16.