BETHEL - Pending Federal Aviation Administration approval of two wood-pellet storage silos this month, Maine Energy Systems will be operational by early fall.

After only one meeting, the Bethel-based energy startup business, which will market a line of wood-pellet furnaces, got a unanimous green light Wednesday night from Bethel planners to proceed with construction. No public hearings are planned.

"It is much appreciated," MESys chief operating officer Michael Broderick said regarding the quick site plan review and approval for the proposed MESys building.

It is the former 20,000-square-foot, single-story GAMM building on a 4.7-acre town parcel at North and Davis roads. It was leased to American Ski Co. for the past decade, and had already been long since approved by planners.

Earlier this year, Bethel voters authorized selectmen to enter a two-year lease agreement at $42,500 per year with the company.

"We'll be glad to get into construction as soon as we get FAA clearance. We have to go through the FAA permitting process, because it deals with the height of structures within and airport area. We should be OK," Broderick said.

The project involves changes to the former GAMM building and property use. Its intended use will continue to be office space, warehousing, assembly and distribution of golf simulators and accessories.

Additional use, according to the site-plan application, will include office space, warehousing, assembly and distribution of wood pellet burners, boilers, stoves, storage systems, wood pellets and other accessories, and other renewable energy producing, storing and distribution systems.

Changes to the property include installation of a two-unit outdoor silo system, land improvements to accommodate truck traffic, heating system improvements in the form of installation of a wood-pellet boiler/burner system in the building, and office space improvements.

Planners discussed the project and findings of fact with MESys chief financial officer Scott Mills, senior engineer Dan Wheeler, and Broderick.

Concerns included:

• Ensuring that the project will adhere to the Airport Industrial Park Covenants and the town lease, existing driveway widening on the east side of the building and installation of a new culvert would be done with and overseen by Bethel Public Works Director Scott Sumner.

• The storage silos must comply with FAA and Central Maine Power Co. regulations on distances from power lines.

• Submitting a revised parking plan to Bethel's code enforcement officer.

• Requirement of new underground utilities.

• Utilization of best management practices for erosion control.

• Having more than 50 full-time occupants will require additional planning board approval.

Planners also granted a waiver pending FAA approval of Bethel's maximum building height of 35 feet for industrial establishments.

Maine Energy Systems was founded earlier this year by Les Otten, a founder of ASC and former owner of Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry.

The business is a distributor for wood-pellet fired boilers made in Sweden and Germany.