Between 100 and 150 residential and business owners in Eastport will have the option to sign up for solar power through the Eastport Community Solar project being built by Midcoast Solar on Moose Island. The project will produce just under 1 megawatt of electricity and is expected to go online this fall, says Midcoast Solar owner Nathaniel Curtis.
      Curtis first approached the island city about the project in 2019 and 2020. "They were very enthusiastic," he says. He met with Eastport resident Richard Clark, an owner in the Moose Island Racetrack Association. "He's such an amazing person who cares deeply about his community," Curtis adds. In 2023 Midcoast Solar purchased a 23-acre parcel from the Moose Island Racetrack Association's land holdings around the Eastport Municipal Airport. The entry to the parcel is off Route 190, across from BayCity Garage.
      While the parcel is just about "all ledge," Curtis says, it was better for the placement of solar panels than another association parcel that was lower and soggy from all the rain. "We went through extensive studies with the FAA," he comments. In addition, the project had to get the green light from a Versant Power capacity study to make sure that the transmission system could handle the additional electricity generated by the new project. "We were given the green light."
      Curtis has worked in solar for over 25 years and has built four community solar farms so far, with two up and running and about eight more in process. The Eastport project is "really special to me," he says, explaining that "it's a unique place." He is intrigued by its history, past and present, of being involved in interesting energy projects, such as Ocean Renewable Power Company's tidal energy research and development projects in Passamaquoddy and Cobscook bays, or the long ago Passamaquoddy tidal dam project that never came to fruition.
      The benefit of a solar farm, Curtis notes, is that it is the lowest impact form of energy. "It doesn't make noise; it doesn't disrupt the area." He points out that community solar projects make it possible for people to support solar energy instead of building their own system, which for many is cost prohibitive. He's even looking for a sheep farmer who might like to graze their sheep among the panels.
      The Maine Office of the Public Advocate explains that community solar, or net energy billing, allows for eligible solar projects to receive credit for each kilowatt hour of electricity they generate. Customers receive two bills, which can take some time to understand. One bill is from Versant Power or Central Maine Power, and one from the community solar project. For example, a customer might see a higher bill than they are used to seeing from the solar company during the summer when the company is producing more electricity and "banking" it for the winter months.
      The Public Advocate site explains, "Normal electricity bills include charges for delivery and supply based on usage; if your usage is offset by solar credits, you will receive a much smaller bill [from Versant], likely with just the fixed and/or demand charges. You will receive a second bill from the solar company for the credits generated for you that month, usually 45 60 days after that month's electric bill. You may see a higher bill from your solar company in the summer when more energy is being generated; you can use those extra credits to offset your bills in the winter, when less solar energy may be generated."
      The Midcoast Solar website plans to have a section devoted to the Eastport Community Solar project soon, Curtis says. Included will be information about how residential and business customers can sign up. For more information visit www.midcoastsolar.com.
      For more information about how community solar credits and billing work, visit the Public Advocate site at www.maine.gov/meopa/ and follow the links for electricity and renewable energy.