HAMPDEN, Maine — Four decades ago, a solar installation was a few panels on a building, but now an installation can require so much land that it's referred to as a solar farm.
One of the 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 company that invests in affordable housing and renewable energy, spent $15 million on the solar farm, partnering with the project's developers, Revision Energy.
The farm has more than 14,000 solar panels, putting the state closer to Gov. Janet Mills' goal of producing 80 percent of the state's power needs with clean energy by the year 2030.
"Obviously the importance of transitioning to renewable energy is a global issue, but it can only be addressed locally," Revision Energy commercial sales lead Andrew Kahrl said.
According to the Gov. Mills' 2022 energy summary energy assessment, Maine spends $4 billion dollars on importing fossil fuels.
Kahrl said the Wishcamper Hampden solar farm works towards changing the way Mainers use energy.
"Every kilowatt hour that we generate in the state of Maine not only is clean solar power but it's a project that was built by Maine labor, owned by a Maine company, and that energy is being used by Maine 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, Deer Isle-Stonington school districts, Bangor Water District, and more.
Former president of the College of the Atlantic Darron Collins was front and center at the solar plant's opening and ribbon cutting back in February before his recent retirement.
"Energy produced from these solar panels is transmitted 54 miles and running our buildings on the College of the Atlantic campus," Collins said.
Customers who receive energy from the solar farm receive a 15-percent discount on their total electric bill, and they also join the movement to lessen the dependence on fossil fuels and reduce carbon pollution throughout the state.
"Anything that we can do to participate in climate solutions is not only important to Maine, but it also impacts the rest of the world," Kahrl said.
Representatives from Revision Energy said Maine is one of the best places, logistically, to build solar energy plants because solar panels produce higher energy outputs in cold temperatures.