Dexter council approves solar ordinance
DEXTER — Following several years of work, the Dexter Town Council has approved a solar ordinance prohibiting the installation of new commercial medium-scale and large-scale solar energy systems. The ordinance allows and regulates private small-scale systems for residential use while protecting public health, safety, welfare, scenic resources and neighboring property values.
“After the November election residents said no more commercial solar farms in Dexter and that is the intention of this ordinance,” Council Chair Marcia Delaware said during a March 19 meeting about last fall’s advisory referendum. More than 70% of voters voted against allowing more commercial solar in town.
Five projects already started are grandfathered.
The town currently has a moratorium on commercial solar arrays in place through the spring.
Last year Town Manager Trampas King met with legal counsel to look at specific differences between commercial and residential solar arrays in terms of municipal ordinances.
Questions concerned the size of larger residential solar systems, which could potentially cover more land than commercial outfits and still be exempt from the ordinance, and the definitions of medium and larger arrays.
In March 2025 the council extended a moratorium on commercial solar arrays for another year as the planning board develops the more comprehensive ordinance to regulate what kind of developments would be permitted in town,
The latest moratorium was put in place for a year, as opposed to a previous moratorium that was only 180 days. It is the second time the moratorium has been extended since first going into effect in May 2024.
With the moratorium in place, the town can temporarily pause any new solar farm development while more permanent measures are developed. The moratorium is based on the development’s size, and does not apply to solar panels that homeowners or small businesses may install.
Councilors also approved a sign ordinance.
Delaware said the ordinance will eradicate the yard sale look of numerous signs on the lawn in front of the post office near the Spring and Main Street traffic light.
The ordinance specifies procedures for sign posting on town property.
In other business, King said he is meeting with department heads to go over the 2026-2027 budget. The council will be holding budget meetings in May and June to develop the next fiscal year’s finances.
Nine contestants entered The Friends of the Dexter Meeting House’s second annual chili cookoff at the First Universalist Church earlier in the month with over 40 taste testers, King reported.
“It went really well and seemed to have had a lot of fun,” he said.
On a Sunday in early May — the exact date will be announced — Dexter is looking to hold its annual clean-up day.
“It’s a good time so come on down and help clean up the town,” King said. “It’s only a few hours and it makes our town look a lot better.”
Food is provided by Hannaford and members of the fire department cook lunch.
The council accepted a grant and monetary donation.
The town applied for funding from Heart of Maine United Way and was awarded $6,500. King said $5,000 will go toward residents’ heating equipment repairs and the other $1,500 is for oil.
The Hartley Charitable Foundation continued its annual giving with $1,800 gifted to the town. When asked, King was not yet sure what the $1,800 would be used for.