Fryeburg Solar fined $204K for damaging environment
Maine solar farm developer fined over $200,000 for runoff pollution
Fryeburg, Maine – A New Jersey‑based energy developer, Fryeburg Solar, has been handed a civil penalty of $204,499 by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for violating state environmental regulations during the construction of a 45‑acre solar farm in Oxford County. The fine, which will be reported to the IRS because it exceeds $50,000, follows a decade‑long dispute over soil erosion and water quality that began when the company began work in 2021.
Construction violations and environmental damage
State inspectors first flagged problems in 2021 when Fryeburg Solar cleared more land at a time than the state had approved. The company failed to install or maintain erosion controls, did not follow winter construction standards, and allowed sediment and soil runoff to flow into nearby streams, wetlands and Lovewell Pond – a popular spot for fishing and boating.
Despite repeated inspections and a citation issued by DEP in October 2022, the violations continued. In August 2023 the department cited the underlying landowners who leased the property to the developer. The runoff not only damaged local water bodies but also threatened wildlife habitats and recreational uses of the pond.
Restoration and settlement
In late 2022 the DEP ordered the company to implement a state‑approved restoration plan. Fryeburg Solar used a vacuum system to remove sediment from 1,717 linear feet of streams and almost an acre of impaired wetlands. By December 2025 the department declared the restoration “successful” and drafted the civil penalty. The proposed consent agreement is the sixth of 2026, with fines ranging from a few thousand dollars for a homeowner who built a gravel driveway to over $284,000 for a Milford homeowner who constructed a stream‑crossing driveway.
Under Maine law, soil discharged into state waters is deemed a pollutant, and the department’s investigation tracked mud plumes flowing toward Lovewell Pond. The settlement includes a requirement that the company pay the fine before the Board of Environmental Protection can consider the agreement, and a public comment period that runs until November 2.
Company response
A spokesperson for Nautilus Solar, the parent company of Fryeburg Solar, said the firm took the matter seriously. “We worked closely with the state, environmental consultants and contractors to address the concerns and implement corrective actions,” the spokesman said in an email. “A check was mailed on September 26.”
Implications for other landowners
While the developers are not required to pay a civil penalty, being cited in the settlement can trigger disclosure obligations during property sales and may complicate refinancing. The case highlights the growing ecological risks associated with Maine’s rapidly expanding solar market, which has been fueled by a 2019 law that encouraged community solar and the fast‑tracking of dozens of 5‑megawatt arrays across rural counties.
State officials say the settlement is a warning that developers must adhere to environmental standards and that landowners should be aware of potential liabilities if their solar tenants fail to comply. The DEP’s latest fine underscores the importance of proper erosion control on steep topography and long mud seasons, common challenges in Maine’s rural landscapes.
