The Wishcamper Hampden Solar Farm produces 8,691,000 kilowatt hours annually with zero carbon pollution, powering College of the Atlantic, Bangor Water District and more.
HAMPDEN, Maine — Four decades ago, a solar installation consisted of a few panels on a building, but now an installation can require so much land that it is known as a solar farm.
One of Maine’s latest solar farms is the Wishcamper Hampden Solar Farm, which sits on 25 acres of land. It opened and began producing clean energy for local customers in February.
Wishcamper Companies Inc., which is an investment firm that invests in affordable housing and renewable energy, spent $15 million on the solar park, partnering with the project’s developers, Revision Energy.
The farm has more than 14,000 solar panels, bringing the state closer to Governor Janet Mills’ goal of producing 80 percent of the state’s energy needs with clean energy by 2030.
“Obviously the importance of the transition to renewable energy is a global issue, but it can only be addressed locally,” said Revision Energy commercial sales leader Andrew Kahrl.
According to Governor Mills’ 2022 Summary Energy Assessment, Maine spends $4 billion importing fossil fuels.
Kahrl said the Wishcamper Hampden solar farm works to change the way Mainers use energy.
“Every kilowatt hour we generate in the state of Maine is not only clean solar energy, but it is a project built by Maine labor, owned by a Maine company, and that energy is being used by municipalities, schools, hospitals and so on,” Kahrl said.
Kahrl said the farm generates 8,691,000 kilowatt hours per year with zero carbon pollution, powering the College of the Atlantic, the Deer Isle-Stonington school districts, the Bangor Water District and more.
Former College of the Atlantic President Darron Collins was front and center at the solar plant groundbreaking and ribbon cutting in February, prior to his recent retirement.
“The energy produced by these solar panels is transmitted 54 miles and powers our buildings on the College of the Atlantic campus,” Collins said.
Customers who receive power from the solar park receive a 15 percent discount on their total electric bill and also join the movement to decrease dependence on fossil fuels and reduce carbon pollution statewide.
“Everything we can do to engage in climate solutions is not only important for Maine, but also impacts the rest of the world,” Kahrl said.
Revision Energy representatives said Maine is one of the best places, logistically, to build solar power plants because solar panels produce higher energy output in cold temperatures.
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