Maine Cooperative Moves Solar to Islands
August 2004
It is more expensive to supply electricity to inhabitants of remote islands, which makes solar systems comparatively more attractive.
One of Maine's most exciting solar initiatives involves the Fox Island Electric Cooperative. The cooperative serves about 1,000 customers through submarine conductors to Vinalhaven and North Haven Islands in midcoast Maine. The conductors are nearing the end of their useful lives, and the cooperative plans to eventually install new ones. This year the cooperative decided to install photovoltaic (PV) systems rated at 17.8 kW and solar thermal collectors that occupy an area of 128 ft2.
Renewable energy systems provide short- and long-term benefits. For the utility, distributed generation from PV provides local voltage support, which can lower line losses and delay the need for circuit upgrades. Solar thermal collectors installed on a home displace 50%-75% of the fossil fuel needed to heat domestic water over the course of a year.
Contact: Dave Folce, manager, Fox Island Electric, 207-863-4636
See more Maine project descriptions published in Conservation Update.
Read recent Maine news stories about state involvement in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects published on the EERE Web site.