Encore Renewable Energy, a renewable energy developer and operator, completed the first two solar projects it will both own and operate in Maine.
The 4-MW Brooks Solar project. Encore Renewable Energy
Brooks Solar, a 4-MW solar array located in Brooks, and Alpine Street Solar, a 2.3-MW array located in Oakland, were both energized last month. These are also the first two projects owned and operated by Encore as part of the company’s transition from project developer to a fully integrated independent power producer. As the long-term asset owner, Encore will manage the operations and maintenance of the projects which will include dual-use agricultural services like solar grazing.
“Every community-scale solar project involves a wide array of stakeholders, and our philosophy as a company is to collaborate as a trusted partner with every party involved,” said Chad Farrell, Founder and co-CEO of Encore Renewable Energy. “When done right, renewable energy assets create meaningful opportunities for utilities, electric customers and developers. Central Maine Power was a great partner on these projects and worked diligently with us to energize these projects on a timeline that worked for both parties.”
Both projects are delivering locally generated clean energy to benefit Maine’s economy. Alpine Street Solar’s customers include towns, schools and other large electric customers, under an offtake arrangement facilitated by Competitive Energy Services based in Portland; and Brooks Solar is providing savings for the electrical bills of several municipal customers as well. Maine’s remote net energy billing program allows these solar projects to distribute these economic benefits to local communities.
The 2.3-MW Oakland Solar project. Encore Renewable Energy
“These projects were two of more than 60 solar projects which came online in Maine communities in 2024, totaling 241 new megawatts of new solar power,” said Eric Sutton, VP of electric operations for Central Maine Power. “We strongly support Maine’s climate goals as we continue to connect more projects like these to our power grid in 2025.”
Agrivoltaic Solutions will deploy local flocks of sheep to graze the land under and around the array, bolstering the local agricultural industry and improving long-term soil quality while providing an efficient, low-carbon vegetation management strategy for the sites.
“We are very pleased to see the Alpine Street and Brooks Solar projects achieve commercial operations” said Charlie Agnew, VP, Competitive Energy Services. “These two projects will provide important long-term economic and sustainability benefits to many of our commercial and institutional clients in Maine.”
News item from Encore Renewable Energy
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