Maine environmental regulators have fined a Bristol solar development almost $94,000 to resolve violations of Maine’s erosion control and water pollution laws.
The Maine Board of Environmental Protection approved a consent agreement between the state and Overlook Solar Partners last week.
According to the settlement, erosion control measures at Overlook’s 5 megawatt solar site failed in 2022 and sediment-laden water runoff polluted nearby wetlands.
The company later corrected the violations and stabilized the site, according to the settlement.
Overlook is an affiliate of Luminace Holdings, a solar development company that is itself a subsidiary of energy giant Brookfield. A Luminace spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The Overlook case is the latest in a string of penalties imposed on solar developers for almost identical violations according to a review of Maine Department of Environmental Protection records.
Since 2022, the state has finalized settlements with at least six solar developers, nearly all for erosion control and stormwater runoff violations. Another settlement, with Fryeburg Solar, was proposed in October.
Another Luminace subsidiary, Tower Solar Partners was fined $236,000 by state regulators last year for violations in Emden that led to sediment pollution flowing into the Kennebec River.
To date, the state has recovered almost $660,000 in penalties, according to a review of the settlements.
The violations occurred in the last five years, during a boom in Maine solar construction as companies capitalized on generous subsidized electric rates for community solar projects of 5 megawatts or less. Those incentives were rolled back last year.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.