More questions we hear.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY JAY?
The grid infrastrucutre from the paper mill is already here. The substation on the former paper mill property used to feed power to the grid fromt he 150-megawatt gas power plant that ran at the mill. The plant is gone and now grid connection can now feed this project instead. Walden bought the rights to that existing interconnection, uses surplus mill land, and has leased additional private land off Canton Mountain Road and near Jay Hill. Repurposing what’s already built is the smartest kind of energy development.
WILL WE BE ABLE TO SEE IT
The mill site and surrounding managed timberlands offer ample land to minimize visual impact through site design and vegetative screening. As part of the Maine DEP Site Law permitting process, the project must produce visual simulations from public areas and meet stringent visual and scenic character standards. Walden has committed to maintaining at least a 100ft vegetative buffer between solar facilities and any abutting residences.
WHAT PERMITS ARE REQUIRED, AND WHEN?
The project requires a Site Location of Development Act permit, a Natural Resources Protection Act permit, and a Solar Decommissioning permit from Maine DEP, and may require a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit. Walden plans to apply in early 2027; permitting is expected to take about a year, with public informational meetings and public comment periods.
WHAT ABOUT WILDLIFE?
The project must consult with multiple state and federal agencies including Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in order to obtain permits. The reality is solar projects are basically sun catching arrays suspended in the air over grass meadows, which continue to support numerous wildlife species. Plans include wildlife friendly fensing, a large game monitoring plan, and respected stream setbacks.
DOES IT MAKE NOISE
Solar panels make no noise. Some equipment, such as transformers and inverters, make limited sound when running during the daytime, audible only up close, and the permitting process requires acceptable noice standards at neighboring properties.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE PROJECT LIFE?
State law requires decommissioning, funded by a bond or letter of credit fully in place before construction starts. See the cleanup section above.