The Metropolis of South Portland, Maine, has accomplished a 4.7-MW photo voltaic array atop the town’s capped landfill. The undertaking ought to offset 63% of the town’s municipal electrical load.
The three-phase undertaking started in 2017 with a 1,016-kW array. In 2022, the growth of “Landfill East” and addition of “Landfill West” added 474 kW and three,251 kW to the whole undertaking. As we speak, these mixed photo voltaic initiatives have the most important energy potential of any photo voltaic array constructed on a municipal landfill within the state, based on Maine DEP.
“The Metropolis of South Portland is thrilled to announce the completion of this multi-phase undertaking,” stated Metropolis Supervisor Scott Morelli. “Because of this extraordinary collaborative effort, photo voltaic vitality now powers the overwhelming majority of municipal operations — a win for each the setting and taxpayers.”
The undertaking was financed by means of a PPA managed by ReVision Power. Calibrant Power paid the upfront price and the Metropolis can pay for the facility generated from the photo voltaic panels every month at a price decrease than utility-provided energy. After seven years, the Metropolis has the choice to buy the system at a lowered value and personal the entire solar energy generated.
“Calibrant Power is proud to companion with the Metropolis of South Portland and ReVision Power to assist the Metropolis’s vitality transition,” stated Thomas Biddinger, Director of Partnerships at Calibrant Power. “Delivering sustainable photo voltaic vitality with versatile financing will present financial and environmental advantages to the realm for many years to return. This undertaking is intently aligned with Calibrant Power’s dedication to offering long-term vitality options which might be constructed for efficiency and sustainability.”
Dozens of native electricians, electrical apprentices, engineers, and different photo voltaic professionals had been employed within the improvement and development of the photo voltaic arrays. Starting in 2013, ReVision Power, the Metropolis of South Portland, and the Metropolis of Portland spent 4 years in a collaborative planning partnership earlier than the primary photo voltaic array was inbuilt 2017.
“Transitioning society from fossil fuels to renewable vitality and clear know-how is the most important infrastructure undertaking within the historical past of humankind, and one of many best wealth creation alternatives of the twenty first century. The Metropolis of South Portland’s clear vitality management is already saving taxpayers cash whereas considerably lowering native carbon air pollution,” stated Phil Coupe, co-founder of ReVision Power. “As a result of the price of photo voltaic know-how has plummeted by 90% over the previous 20 years, the Metropolis of South Portland and its residents will derive a robust financial and environmental return on this photo voltaic funding. And maybe better of all, the just lately handed Inflation Discount Act will additional cut back clear vitality prices in 2023 and past, making solar energy, warmth pumps, battery storage and electrical autos essentially the most enticing choices for householders, companies, nonprofits and municipalities.
Information merchandise from ReVision
