An Act To Support Farmland Preservation by Allowing the Siting of Solar Energy Installations on Land Enrolled in the Farm and Open Space Tax Law Program”
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2127
Committee Amendment CA_A_H877 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1517, L.D. 2127, “An Act To Support 
Farmland Preservation by Allowing the Siting of Solar Energy Installations on Land 
Enrolled in the Farm and Open Space Tax Law Program”
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, To Identify Opportunities To Support Both Farmland Conservation and 
Local Energy Production by Amending Current Use Tax Laws or Other State and 
Local Policies'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'Sec. 1.  Study of opportunities to support both farmland conservation and 
local energy production by amending current use tax laws or other state and 
local policies. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
shall establish a working group to study the challenges and opportunities facing farmers 
and farmland owners considering the installation of solar or other local energy generation.  
The working group shall consider the impact of property taxes, solar energy siting and 
design decisions and other factors on the use and long-term conservation of agricultural 
land that is enrolled in the farm and open space tax program under the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 36, chapter 105, subchapter 10 where solar energy installations are located.  
The working group must include representatives designated by the State Tax Assessor and 
by statewide organizations representing municipal governments, solar energy developers, 
farmers and farmland conservation.  The working group shall consider and recommend 
policies to encourage solar energy installations to be sited on farmland and incorporated 
into farming activities in ways that will help keep land in farming and protect prime 
farmland.  At a minimum, the policies that are considered must include, but are not limited 
to, tax policy, farm and municipal viability, dual use methods of production and soil health 
as means to achieve this objective.  The department shall submit a report on the findings 
and recommendations of the working group to the joint standing committees of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over taxation matters and agriculture, conservation and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1517, L.D. 2127
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
forestry matters by April 15, 2021.  Either committee may submit a bill related to the report 
to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment changes the bill to a resolve directing the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry to form a working group to study the impact of property taxes 
and other factors on the use of agricultural land that is enrolled in the farm and open space 
tax program where solar energy installations are located and to recommend policies to 
support and encourage the generation and use of solar energy on farmland in ways that will 
help protect farmland.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Approved: 08/06/20
LD 2127
LR 3161(02)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry associated with forming the 
working group or to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services associated with participating in the 
working group are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
Minor cost increase - General Fund
An Act To Support Farmland Preservation by Allowing the Siting of Solar Energy Installations on 
Land Enrolled in the Farm and Open Space Tax Law Program
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Taxation
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
LR3161(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1