Two agrivoltaic solar facilities in Maine, owned and operated by Encore Renewable Energy, have come online, providing low-cost energy and bolstering the state’s agricultural industry. The 4 MW Brooks Solar facility in Brooks, Maine, and the 2.3 MW Alpine Street Solar facility in Oakland, Maine, feature dual-use agriculture services such as solar grazing. Local flocks of sheep will graze under and around the arrays, improving soil quality and providing a low-carbon vegetation management strategy. Encore selected equipment from domestic partners, including CPS America, Terrasmart, and Hyperion Solar, prioritizing price, availability, and suitability. The projects are part of a larger trend, with over 60 solar projects totaling 241 MW of new solar power coming online in Maine in 2024 alone. Meanwhile, Maine’s remote net-metering program allows solar-generated power to be shared with ratepayers throughout the region. The projects have also received support from local communities, with charitable contributions planned for the towns of Oakland and Brooks.
Maine’s state-of-the-art solar facilities pioneer agrivoltaics and feature US-sourced, cutting-edge racking technology – pv magazine USA
