Nautilus Solar Energy has announced the opening of a 7 MW community solar project at a remediation site in Sanford, Maine. The Nautilus Solar team worked with Walden Renewables Development (the original developers) to complete this innovative project, which demonstrates how degraded land can be transformed into a productive source of clean energy and driving economic growth.
Now fully operational, this project will provide clean, renewable energy to more than 960 subscribers in the Central Maine Power (CMP) utility area. Nautilus Solar is the long-term owner of the facility, ensuring continued performance, energy production and customer savings for years to come.
“We are excited to work with the Walden team and the City of Sanford to find a creative solution to repurpose the contaminated site into a source of clean energy for the local community,” said Laura York, VP of structuring at Nautilus Solar.
The Sanford project qualifies for Maine’s Net Energy Billing (NEB) program, which is part of the state’s commitment to achieving 80% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2050. This project allows Maine residents and businesses to subscribe to Nautilus Community Solar, giving them the opportunity to save money on their electricity use without having to invest in solar panels or install solar panels on their roofs.
The solar farm is located on a combination of city-owned land and adjacent Maine Turnpike Authority land. Once home to CGA Inc., a printed circuit board recycling facility, this project reflects a unique partnership with the City of Sanford, allowing the City to achieve its environmental and economic ambitions. In addition to the clean energy it generates, the solar park provides a stable source of income for the city through rental payments and job creation.
“We were very pleased to partner with Nautilus on this important project,” said Henry Weitzner, CEO of Walden Renewables Development. “The transformation of the heavily contaminated CGA brownfield site in Sanford into a remediated solar farm site is a major success story and included extensive collaboration with Maine DEP, the City of Sanford, the U.S. Army Corps and the Maine Turnpike Authority. We are pleased to see that the project is now operational for Nautilus.”
News item from Nautilus Solar Energy
