Wiscasset’s first Community Solar Farm will be built as soon as nine families, businesses, or a combination of both join together as investors.

Morris Farm, the planned site of the solar farm, will host an informational meeting on the community solar farm Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m.

James Manzer, a solar advisor from ReVision Energy, will provide an overview of the solar array planned on the north end of the property. He’ll also explain the financial advantages for joining a community solar farm. ReVision Energy, based in Liberty, recently designed and built a community solar farm in Edgecomb and one in Paris, Maine. Another is being considered in Rockland.

Sam Selby of Wiscasset, a Morris Farm volunteer, said you don’t have to live in Wiscasset to become a Community Solar Farm member. Membership is open to anyone, anywhere, who purchases their electricity from Central Maine Power Co. After the solar farm becomes operational, members earn credit for the electricity generated from it. That credit is applied monthly to a homeowner's or business’ electric bill. 

The Morris Farm Board of Directors has given its full support to the project that will be built as soon as nine families or businesses join together in a partnership.

According to a prospectus prepared by ReVision Energy, the initial step in joining requires making a deposit of $1,000 to secure a share in the solar farm. The deposit is refundable until the CSF agreement is finalized between its membership and site host for installation of the solar array. Members pay a monthly fee to finance their share of the solar grid over a 12-year period.

A federal program currently gives a 30-percent income tax credit for solar investment, although unless renewed by Congress, the tax incentive will expire next year. Once a member has paid off their share in the CSF, they’ll receive free power.

Manzer will explain the financial obligation in greater detail at the informational meeting, which will include a question and answer session. Knowing your annual electric usage is helpful if you’re interested in becoming a solar farm member. You can determine this by adding up your monthly kilowatt usage for the last 12 months that’s printed at the bottom of your electric bill. You can also contact CMP customer service for this information.

Selby likes the idea of investing in a solar farm and hopes the opportunity to do so will appeal to others. He and his wife, Kayda, plan to join the Morris Farm Community Solar Farm. He said for him the financing is both reasonable and cost effective. He also likes the idea of reducing his carbon footprint.

“Going solar really makes a lot of sense and I couldn’t be happier that this is happening here in Wiscasset,” he said. Selby hopes people will come to the informational meeting if only to learn more about solar power.

How does solar power work?

According to ReVision Energy, after sunlight strikes the modules in the solar panels direct current electricity is created. Solar inverters then convert the DC power into alternating current suitable for the grid. The electricity from the solar array runs through a meter to generate energy credits. The utility (Central Maine Power Co.) tabulates the monthly kilowatt hours produced. CMP then credits solar farm members an amount proportional to their percentage of ownership. Excess energy credits not used can be carried over to the next month’s bill. In short, the more sunshine, the more electricity is made and the more members save on their energy bill.

Selby said the goal is to have all nine members on board by Sept. 1. “If that happens, ReVision has told us the community solar farm could be up and running sometime this fall,” he said.

Hans Albee, who grew up in Wiscasset and now works for ReVision Energy, designed the solar array planned for Morris farm.

The location of the solar array will be on a level area of ground on the northeast corner of the property just off the Gardiner Road. Morris Farm will receive a small yearly stipend for being host of the Community Solar Farm. A separate solar array is planned for the south side of the barn roof. 

To learn more about the Morris Farm Community Solar Farm, go to www.revisionenergy.com.