Somerset County
Somerset County, Maine: solar permitting grade B (score 34/100, Moderate Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | B · Moderate Risk · Score 34/100 |
| Population | 51,479 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Somerset County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Maine's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive. Market saturation is elevated in this area — expect competition for prime land parcels and interconnection capacity.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
In Maine, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Somerset County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Anson town
- Athens town
- Bingham town
- Cambridge town
- Canaan town
- Caratunk town
- Cornville town
- Detroit town
- Embden town
- Fairfield town
- Harmony town
- Hartland town
- Jackman town
- Madison town
- Mercer town
- Moose River town
- Moscow town
- New Portland town
- Norridgewock town
- Palmyra town
- Pittsfield town
- Ripley town
- Skowhegan town
- Smithfield town
Show all
- Solon town
- St. Albans town
- Starks town
- Brighton plantation
- Dennistown plantation
- Highland plantation
- Pleasant Ridge plantation
- The Forks plantation
- West Forks plantation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Franklin County · ≈43 miC44—
- Piscataquis County · ≈51 miB37—
- Penobscot County · ≈64 miB41—
- Kennebec County · ≈76 miC46—
- Oxford County · ≈79 miB40—
- Waldo County · ≈80 miB35—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Somerset County ranks #5 of 16 ranked Maine counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Maine: Sagadahoc County (A · 28), Lincoln County (B · 32), Knox County (B · 33). See all Maine county grades →
Want the full record?
Setback distances, board vote histories, source documents, and ordinance amendments are available in the full county profile. The map is free; a walkthrough shows you the underlying record.
About this score
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
Related reading
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.