Vassalboro voters approve moratorium on solar development

by Mary Grow

At the polls on Nov. 8, Vassalboro voters approved a moratorium on commercial solar development in the town, effective immediately.

Town Clerk Cathy Coyne said the vote was 1,343 in favor to 748 opposed. The moratorium prohibits the planning board or any other municipal board or official from taking action on a commercial solar application for at least 180 days; the select board has the discretion to extend it.

Purpose of the delay is to give planning board members time to develop new regulations for such developments and present them to voters for approval. Board members have started discussing regulations and hope to have a document ready for the annual town meeting in June 2023.

The only other local question in Vassalboro on Nov. 8 was election of a representative to the Kennebec Water District board of trustees. Incumbent Frank Richards, unopposed for re-election, received 1,920 votes.

In state and county voting, Coyne reported the following results from Vassalboro voters:

• For Representative to Congress from District 1, incumbent Democrat Chellie Pingree, 1,000 votes; Republican challenger Edwin Thelander, 1,138 votes.
• For governor of Maine, Independent Sam Hunkler, 39 votes; Republican Paul LePage, 1,187 votes; incumbent Democrat Janet Mills, 954 votes.
  or state senator from District #15, incumbent Republican Matthew Pouliot, 1,359 votes; Democrat Storme Jude St. Valle, 790 votes.
• For state representative from District #61, incumbent Republican Richard Bradstreet, 1,318 votes; Democrat Amy Davidoff, 848 votes.
• For Kennebec County register of deeds, Matthew James Boucher, 1,270 votes; incumbent C. Diane Wilson, 843 votes.

Coyne said Vassalboro polls were busy all day, with a total of 2,190 ballots cast. The new secure ballot drop box outside the town office was used a lot up to and on election day, she said; even when the office was open, some voters put their early ballots in the box.