This month marked a small victory for GridSolar when their project gained support in Saco, ME, winning an option to lease 17 acres of land for solar ground panels if Gridsolar's plan is approved by the Public Utilities Commission.

Maine’s already high, and projected to be higher, electricity demand, especially in the summer months needs to be met and GridSolar's project offers a solution. GridSolar is currently fighting against Central Maine Power Company, which presents a different solution that consists of constructing miles of power lines which will cut directly through communities and add continued reliance on fossil fuels at a price of 8 cents per kilowatt hr.

GridSolar is a renewable energy company looking to make Maine the leading solar power generator in the United States by using already clear and open fields outside of communities as sites for large-scale solar arrays. These solar fields would power local towns by pumping electricity into the grids as needed. This distributed generation would help save residents money at a price of 3 cents per kilowatt hr because the power will be local and will cut out CMP's proposed power lines, which would be delivering electricity from far off generation stations and would call for the clearing of land to construct.

Will Kessler, a representative of ReVision Energy, based in Portland ME but expanding into NH with an office in Dover, supports the GridSolar project, saying, “It's a good idea! If GridSolar can show it works on a small community level and meets the demand, it will be a real improvement. This is something we need in the Northeast. The Northeast gets a cloudy weather stigma when actually we have more sun exposure per day than Germany where large scale solar generation is already in place.”

ReVision Energy is not involved with the project, but shares the same goal of providing alternatives to fossil fuels by designing and installing solar electric systems, solar hot water systems and wood and pellet boilers. Kessler calls any move towards sustainable renewable energy “common sense.”

Seacoast Energy Alternatives or SEA Solar Store is another company in the area looking to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels by offering solar powered electric and water systems, energy saving alternatives to household appliances, and much more. Owner Jack Bingham said, “I am 100% for distributed generation; it's much more practical, and why not do it with renewables?” When asked if he believed GridSolar's plan would be approved, Bingham replied, “It's possible. Maine has a long history of being environmentally proactive and I think the added competition will be a good thing.”

Both GridSolar and Central Maine Power Company's plans are being considered by Maine's Public Utilities Commission, but it will take the PUC up to a year to choose and approve a plan.

To learn more about the GridSolar Project visit www.gridsolarme.com or call GridSolar, LLC in Portland at 207.772.6190.

For more information on ReVision energy visit www.revisionenergy.com or call 603-486-7170, and for info on Seacoast Energy Alternatives visit www.seasolarstore.com or call 888-749-9550.