Voters at Special Town Meeting approved a bylaw to regulate solar energy installations in town for both commercial and private use. The move is designed to encourage clean energy generation while ensuring solar farms don’t disrupt residential areas.

Months were spent crafting the bylaw, which was approved in a 97-27 vote on Monday night in Sippican School.

The bylaw governs the regulation of ground-mounted and roof-mounted solar bylaws for private residences. At issue was a portion of the bylaw that allows commercial solar operations in residential areas. Planning board members contended that allowing solar farms in any residential area would reduce the quality of life.

Before the vote, the planning board introduced a motion that would have eliminated the solar farm language from the bylaw. Vice Chair Stephen Kokkins said that would have allowed voters to approve the residential guidelines while giving his board time to create an overlay district.

The district would have limited where solar farms are allowed.

“We want these relatively large and commercial systems incorporated into areas that are relatively suitable,” Kokkins said.

Town Moderator David Titus shot down the board’s motion saying it changed the scope of the article, which is not allowed under state law. Residents then debated the pros and cons of solar farms in Marion. Some said allowing commercial operations in residential areas set a dangerous precedent. Others said it was the town’s duty to join the green energy movement.

Resident Michael Moore said Marion owed it to the global community to promote solar energy. “I really believe this town needs to stand up as these are very serious concerns to the survival of our species,” he said. Energy Management Committee member

Jennifer Francis said not passing the bylaw would have left the town vulnerable. State law already allows solar farms to open unless communities can show they pose a risk to the health and well being of a town. The bylaw puts more protections in place, she said.