LOVELL, Maine — A group called Our Eden Association is hoping Lovell property owners will hit the pause button on solar development after a massive project was proposed in town.
Walden Solar Maine III is seeking a conditional use permit for an 180-acre, 35-megawatt project located off Shave Hill Road in Lovell. The transmission line would run south across Main Street/Route 5 before interconnecting at a substation in Sweden. The project life is estimated to be 40 years.
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