ROCKLAND – On Tuesday, Sept. 11, Rockland Planning Board members will conduct a site visit of a proposed fixed ground solar array farm on 62 Holmes Street.

Revision Energy’s client, Migis Lodge, has requested the project as a way to reduce electrical expenses, according to Revision representative Hans Albee during the Tuesday, Aug. 21, Planning Board meeting.

“The electrical generation of this facility would go back onto the grid through a Central Maine Power meter, and the credits generated would give money to accounts owned by Migis Lodge,” Albee said.

No electricity would be stored on site. Instead, all generated energy will travel through sub-surface wires directly back to CMP. Any benefit to Rockland would come from property taxes.

Migis Lodge operates out of South Casco. In turn, Migis Lodge shares ownership with a group called Migis Hotel Group, and Migis Hotel Group manages 250 Main, a hotel overlooking Rockland Harbor, as well as other properties in the Midcoast, Albee said.

If plans are approved, the solar array would be one of the least impactful projects to the abutting neighborhood that could fill the industrial zone, according to Code Enforcement Officer John Root. However, there are some who’d rather see an auto-body shop or heavy industrial facility instead due to the jobs those businesses would create, Root said.

Similar to the array found at Camden Hills Regional High School, this array would consist of 912 solar modules generating a 1,000-volt system within the approximate 2 acre parcel.

“We feel confident that this equipment is fully certified and safe for use in proximity to people,” Albee said.

At the same time, Albee acknowledged inherent risks involving contact with high-voltage equipment. However, a seven-foot high chain-link perimeter fence is proposed and would be positioned 10 feet from the property lines.

There will be a 200-foot distance from property lines to all abutting properties.

Migis Lodge will own the equipment and the arrays, yet leases the property where Pabst Blue Ribbon once utilized a warehouse.

Each of four inverters spread out among the middle four rows would produce sounds of up to 55 decibels when measured three feet from the device, depending on how much energy is being generated at the time. Albee equated the noise to window air conditioners, during business hours, and no sound at night. The panels would produce no more light than regular glass, and no odor exists, according to him.

The concern of nearby wetland was also listed by opposing neighbors, who happen to be the daughters of ‘Rockland’s only farm.’ Stevens Farm housed cows until recently, according to Root. The building is vacant, but is hooked up to electricity but not water, according to the daughters.

On the proposed array parcel, owned by Jason Philbrook of Owls Head, only a small portion at the corner of Lovejoy Street is considered a wetland, according to Albee. To review the situation, he obtained a site visit from the Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP representative found no reason to require extra permits.

“We’ve tried to keep our array out of there as much as possible,” Albee said. “We don’t want to work in an area that’s going to be seasonally wet.”

The contract for the arrays consists of a 30-year base lease with two five-year extensions available.

“We expect that the wracking and the modules will last for 40 years, and we do expect that the inverters will be replaced once within that time span,” he said.

A final removal clause promises that the tenant return the site to the same condition it was in prior to construction.

The wooded area will be cleared where the arrays will stand. That area will be kept mowed so no electrical generation will be hindered. Vegetation will remain the same for most of the property border. The southern boundary, however, will be cleared to acquire maximum benefit from the sun.

One tree will remain at the southwest corner, according to Albee.

“Though it does shade the array, that tree will remain in place,” he said. “It’s right on the boundary line, and we did think there’s any need to cause a fuss about it. And it’s also a beautiful tree.”

This article initially stated that energy credits from the solar arrays were intended to offset expenses to the hotel called 250 Main. Actually, credits were not specified to any of the businesses within Migis Group, just to the Group as a whole.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com