While central Maine is experiencing somewhat of an influx in larger-scale solar projects, Donegan said the increase could be seen around the state, including larger cities such as Portland and South Portland, which are conducting feasibility studies.
“Maine has the most energy diversity in New England, and solar is included in that.”
He said because of that extension, construction of larger energy projects became more feasible, and there has been an upswing in these types of projects, specifically solar. Garvan Donegan, an economic development specialist for the Central Maine Growth Council, a public-private collaborative group based in Waterville, said projects like these are funded by federal tax credits, which were extended by Congress in 2015. “Each of the projects individually is approximately a $20 million investment, and they’ll bring substantive tax revenue to the area and some temporary construction jobs,” Svedlow said. Svedlow said the utility-scale projects in Fairfield and Clinton still need to go through the permitting process with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection after they complete inspections, but the hope is to complete construction by 2019, if not earlier. Aaron Svedlow, vice of president of permitting for Ranger Solar, would not disclose specific locations during an interview Friday, saying only that the company has land controlled and would begin studies in the spring. It wasn’t immediately clear where exactly the Fairfield and Clinton projects are planned, but the chamber indicated they would be built on private land. The Yarmouth-based company is proposing new Maine solar projects in Fairfield and Clinton. A simulation photo provided by Ranger Solar shows the location of a solar project underway in Vermont.