D-F airport could become site of solar project

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Dover-Foxcroft municipal airport at Charles A. Chase Jr. Memorial Field on Pine Street could become the home of a four megawatt solar project, the Dover-Foxcroft selectmen learned during an Oct. 15 meeting. In order for the project to move forward, the airport would need to be decommissioned and a public hearing on the proposal has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12 at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building. The meeting date has been moved back from the regular selectmen’s meeting date on the second Monday of the month due to Veterans Day.

Town Manager Jack Clukey said the month before the selectmen opted to work with ReVision Energy to develop a municipal solar plan, with the firm evaluating Dover-Foxcroft for opportunities for the company to potentially develop large-scale projects and then use the properties via lease option agreements. He said new legislation provides opportunities for municipal solar initiatives, such as federal tax credits and rebates.

“In order to do that the site would no longer function as an airport,” Clukey said. He explained a four megawatt solar project would provide the town with more than $1 million in lease and property tax revenue over a 30-year lease. The project could also provide Dover-Foxcroft with the opportunity to enter into a power purchase agreement for 15 percent annual savings in the town’s electric costs over the timeframe.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
POTENTIAL SOLAR SITE — The Dover-Foxcroft municipal airport on Pine Street could become the home of a four megawatt solar project. In order for the project to move forward, the airport would need to be decommissioned and a public hearing on the proposal has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12 at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building.

“By the end of this year we need to make a decision,” Clukey said about closing the airport and moving forward with ReVision Energy.

Selectman Steve Grammont said the tax credits diminish with time and then expire. “This is really an opportunity we didn’t have before, we have it now and won’t stay the same moving forward,” he said. “We are in competition with other sites that are not in Dover-Foxcroft.”

Select Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr wondered if the airport was the only site identified by ReVision Energy. Clukey said the location on Pine Street is the only municipal site suitable for a four megawatt solar project, but a smaller-scale initiative could work at the Pine Crest Business Park.

The town manager says the airport budget is about $3,000 for maintenance and insurance. He said he believes there are two privately-owned hangars there.

“A lot of recreational planes will come in and leave again,” Clukey said. “I don’t believe we have $3,000 worth of income.”

Selectman Scott Taylor said the airport cannot grow beyond its current size due to a nearby water tower and adjacent privately-owned land. “So we’re kind of limited there,” he said.

“Step one is I’m recommending is to have a public hearing,” Clukey said as the selectmen voted to schedule the November 12 session as well as moving to develop a lease option agreement with ReVision Energy for the airport.

“The reason why they want that commitment is they are going to have to start spending money,” Grammont said, mentioning the company’s legal fees.

“Potentially we would be signing the lease option agreement any time after the public hearing,” Clukey said.

“I just want the public to be aware there’s time for people to inquire and understand what this is about,” Freeman Cyr said.

In other business, the selectmen formally approved the acceptance of a near $48,000 grant awarded to the fire department for an exhaust evacuation system at its downtown station. The grant is from the East Millinocket-based Gloria C. MacKenzie Foundation, which through its mission and vision hopes to improve economic growth and enhance the quality of life for the people of Maine.

“When the trucks roll out it doesn’t just fill with CO2 and exhaust and make everyone sick,” Clukey said about the purpose of the exhaust evacuation system.

“I wanted to mention a lot of effort went into this from our fire department,” the town manager said. He said Finance Director Dave Johnson and Piscataquis County Economic Development Council Executive Director Chris Winstead also contributed a great deal to the grant application process.

Freeman Cyr wondered about the project cost and the $47,760 grant from the Gloria C. MacKenzie Foundation is for “100 percent, this isn’t a match,” Clukey said. “Really it couldn’t be a better situation for the fire department to take what funds they do have and go after other things.”

“It’s a complete exhaust system, it connects to everything,” Fire Chief Joe Guyotte said. He said similar systems are in Newport and Bath stations and “they’ve been five years and all they have to do is change the filters.”

.The selectmen also looked at a petition signed by 44 landowners on Highland Road, requesting selectmen vote to authorize the town to provide year-round maintenance on the travelway by Sebec Lake allowed under the municipal public easement policy. In 2006 the town accepted a 50-foot easement and has provided summer maintenance along with materials for road improvements.

“We have used that policy and done everything it’s required to do in terms of the town,” Charlie Merrill said. “I’m proud to say it’s in very good shape, we put in a turnaround.”

“We are in a position now where we have done everything we can to bring it up to par, we have met the standards,” he said, saying he has spoken with public works about plowing the Highland Road.

“Right now it’s being plowed piecemeal and it’s not consistent, sometimes it gets plowed and sometimes it isn’t,” Merrill said.

“I would like to see this go to the public works committee,” Select Chair Elwood Edgerly said. A committee meeting date is to be determined and this will be posted at www.dover-foxcroft.org.

In his report, Clukey said the Piscataquis County Ice Arena on West Main Street was formally opened on Sept. 30 with a ribbon cutting. The $5.5 million Piscataquis County Ice Arena was funded by the Libra Foundation and the facility will be managed by Foxcroft Academy.

“We still intend to have ice at the fairgrounds,” he said with this space open for public skating again in 2019-20. “They have said if ice sports are really going to grow it’s outdoor rinks plus the indoor rink.”

Taylor said the ice arena and Penquis Youth Hockey Association Facebook pages have more information, including ice schedules.