Community solar developer UGE teamed up with the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy and the Town of Norway and to bring community solar to Norway, Maine. The solar farm, set to begin construction this summer, will be built atop a capped landfill.
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With a capacity of 1 MW, the project will generate enough electricity to offset nearly 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide each year, reducing energy costs for the town and local businesses. In addition to saving on energy costs, the Town of Norway will earn long-term lease revenue on the land where the project will be built.
“The new community solar farm will provide financial support for our town and for local businesses for decades to come,” says Dennis Lajoie, Town Manager of Norway. “We hope to serve as an example for other small towns, encouraging them to turn underutilized land into sources of clean energy and revenue that can be re-invested in their communities.”
The Center for an Ecology-Based Economy (CEBE), a non-profit grassroots environmental organization in Norway, will educate the community and bring subscribers to the project.
“We are thrilled to be working with UGE and the Town of Norway to bring the first community solar farm to our community,” says Scott Vlaun, Executive Director of CEBE. “By democratizing access to the economic benefits of solar, the community solar model aligns with our organization’s mission to support a just transition to a thriving, regenerative economy.”
In addition to the Norway Community Solar Farm, UGE is currently developing 12 other community solar projects in Maine totaling 38MW, which, once complete, will offset almost 54,000 tons of CO2 each year while providing electricity savings for communities and local businesses around the state.
Tags: Community Solar
