The Piscataquis Sheriff’s Department asked the local community for information on Wednesday regarding the theft of solar panels in Parkman.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, a “large number” of panels were stolen from a solar field near 619 State Highway 150 between 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, and 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19.
The stolen panels had reportedly not been installed in the field yet and were lying in stacks on three pallets. Each photovoltaic panel was four feet wide, six feet long, and “very heavy.”
The Sheriff’s Department did not specify the monetary value of the stolen panels.
Authorities believe that the thieves used a large trailer to move all the stolen panels. They are urging any members of the public in the area with information about the theft to reach out to the Sheriff’s Department by phone or via Facebook.
The press release did not include any security footage of the incident, and it is unclear what, if any, mechanisms were in place to prevent thieves from simply driving onto the solar field and making off with the panels.
Based on the comments on the Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook post, the public does not appear eager to assist law enforcement and largely seems to be siding with the alleged thieves.
It appears that the department limited who could comment on their post after commenters expressed support for the thieves and contempt for Maine’s current push for “renewable” energy sources.
“I don’t like ppl that steal but I like solar panels on our farm land even less… so I’m almost hoping this becomes a trend,” said one commenter.
The department does not typically limit comments on its posts.
The solar panel theft is similar to another incident last summer when the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department searched for suspects who allegedly rampaged through the Novel Energy Solutions Solar Farm in New Gloucester with construction equipment, causing several hundred thousand dollars in damages.
The suspect or suspects in that vandalism incident were seemingly never caught, and members of the public expressed their support for the crime.
Though many Mainers are frustrated with the push for renewable energy, which drives increasing energy costs through the net energy billing program and covers farmland with unsightly panels, theft and vandalism are not likely to meaningfully hinder the expansion of solar energy.
[RELATED: Mainers Overflow Hearing to Speak Out on Both Sides of Proposed Net Energy Billing Repeal…]
Instead of giving up in the face of resistance, solar companies will likely simply spend the additional money to repair or restore damaged or stolen property. That spending may ultimately make its way into ratepayers’ electric bills or taxpayers’ bank accounts.
