WARREN, MAINE
Warren Meadow Solar Station is a 100 MWDC project, located in Warren, Maine
The project is sited on secluded, privately owned land, connecting to an existing Central Maine Power (“CMP”) transmission line. The power will be sold to CMP at competitive rates, and delivered to local ratepayers.
The project will use bifacial solar panels, which generate electricity from both sides, and tracking racks, which follow the sun’s transit throughout the day. Both technologies help optimize energy generation.
The site is leased from local landowners who, along with their families, have been residents of Warren for many years.
Warren Meadow Solar Station is expected to begin construction by the end of 2024. Once operational the project will generate emission free electricity for decades, offsetting over 4,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over forty years. In the first year of service, emissions avoided by Warren Meadow Solar Station will equal the carbon sequestered by 214 square miles of forest.
LOCATION
151 Wottons Mill Road
Warren, Maine
04864
Latitude: 44.163894
Longitude: -69.219372
project documents
Project updates
The Warren Planning Board approved the Site Plan by voice vote on August 11th, 2022. We thank the Planning Board and town staff for their diligence and professionalism.
Permit Approved
The Warren Planning Board will hold discussion of the project at their meeting on August 11th, 2022. The meeting will be held at the Fire Station - parking is available in the town office lot.
Planning Board Meeting
The Warren Planning Board will meet on August 11th, 2022. The Planning Board is expected to discuss the project at the meeting - please check the town’s website for the agenda, and to confirm the meeting location.
Planning Board Meeting
The Public Hearing for the project may be relocated to the Warren Fire Station, at 177 Western Road. It is adjacent to the Warren Town Office.
Planning Board Meeting
The Public Hearing for the project will be held by the Warren Planning Board on July 14th, 2022. The hearing will be held at the Warren Municipal Offices.
Planning Board Meeting
The project will be on the agenda for the Warren Planning Board on June 9th, 2022. In case of unfavorable weather for the site visit on June 2nd, the Planning Board meeting will be moved to June 16th. The Planning Board may vote to open the public hearing for the project at that meeting.
Planning Board Meeting
The Warren Planning Board scheduled a site visit at 5:30 PM on June 2nd. Access will be from 100 Wotton’s Mill Road; the entrance and route will be signed. In case of unfavorable weather, the visit will be moved to 5:30 PM on June 9th. Attendance is open to all; attendees are advised to travel by private vehicle within the site. Attendees should dress appropriately for walking in the forests, including closed shoes and insect repellent.
Anyone interested in visiting Carroll Road Extension should meet at 4:00 on June 2nd at 100 Wotton’s Mill Road.
Site Visit
On May 12 2022, the Warren Planning Board deemed the Site Plan Approval application complete.
Planning Board
Warren Planning Board will hold a pre-application hearing for the project on May 12, 2022. The meeting will be held at the Warren Town Office at 7:00 PM.
Planning Board Meeting
Permit APPLICATION
Warren Meadow Solar Station applied for Site Plan Approval from the Warren Planning Board on 04/21/22.
Warren Meadow Solar Station applied for a Site Location of Development Act (SLODA) permit to the Maine DEP on 03/31/22.
Permit APPLICATION
Warren Meadow Solar Station applied for a Site Location of Development Act (SLODA) permit to the Maine DEP on 03/31/22.
Permit APPLICATION
PUBLIC MEETING
Warren Meadow Solar Station held a public meeting in accordance with Maine Department of Environmental Protection requirements on 03/15/22. The meeting was held at the Old Brick School at the Warren Baptist Church; approximately fifty members of the public attended. The presentation used in the meeting is posted on this webpage in the “Project Documents” section.
PPA APPROVED
On 09/28/21 the MPUC approved the energy contract between Warren Meadow Solar Station and Central Maine Power.
PPA SELECTION
Warren Meadow Solar Station was selected by the Maine Public Utility Commission (“MPUC”) to enter into an energy contract with Central Maine Power on 06/29/21. The order was issued under the RPS Tranche 2 procurement (Docket # 2021-00004) managed by the MPUC.
community
Warren Meadow Solar Station will be a model for positive community engagement. The project will preserve Warren's recreational and natural resources while allowing the local generation of affordable and reliable clean energy. The project will preserve and enhance the existing recreational trail system on the property.
Glenvale will establish a community benefits plan and contribute to local initiatives and causes. Do you have a suggested good cause that you think Glenvale can support? Please let us know.
We have partnered with longstanding local owners to lease the land on which the project will be built. The project will not be visible from public roads, nor will it require any new transmission line construction.
environment
The site is ideal for a modern renewable energy power plant, avoiding impact to critical natural resources. The project will not be visible from the scenic highways or trails in either town. The project will improve the area’s natural resources by providing acres of cultivated habitat for pollinators. Due to the decline in pollinators, and the importance of blueberry production locally, the pollinator habitat will be a critical benefit.
Warren Meadow Solar Station is located on land currently managed for timber harvesting and mineral extraction. No prime farmland will be used for the project; all logged trees are already planned for commercial harvest, and no new transmission lines will be constructed.
Warren Meadow Solar Station will generate an estimated 157,808 megawatt hours of emission free energy in its first operating year; that’s enough to power 18,450 typical Maine homes. Over the first forty-years of operation, the project will generate 5,700,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy, and avoid the emission of 4,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The energy generated by Warren Meadow Solar Station will be delivered to the CMP transmission system using existing infrastructure, and used locally.
Economic impact
The project will be a critical source of employment and property taxes for Warren. We expect to generate over two hundred construction jobs at peak employment. Maine residents and Maine based business will be prioritized for contracting and employment opportunities.
The project will be a major tax-payer in Warren. We expect to discuss a mutually beneficial agreement related to new taxes with the elected leadership in each community.
Glenvale has established an Apprenticeship Program in partnership with a leading local Community Development Financing Institution (CDFI). The Apprenticeship Program will support new employment opportunities for up to fifteen transitioning workers. Program participants will be selected based on their promise, training needs, and their ability to benefit from a structured training program. Interested in participating? Let us know.