$200M solar array in Kennebec Co. will generate power for 30,000 homes
Courtesy / Longroad Energy
The project has agreements to conserve 1,875 acres of predominately forested lands. The footprint will be 690 acres under the panels. This site map shows the project during the proposal phase.
More Information
A $200 million solar array under construction in Kennebec County will be the largest solar project in Maine when complete and is expected to support 150 jobs and generate $60 million in goods and purchases.
The Three Corners Solar project has been in development for five years.
KeyBank and U.S. Bank served as lenders. KeyBanc Capital Markets served as coordinating lead arranger; U.S. Bank was the sole tax equity investor for the project.
The developer is Longroad Energy, a renewable energy developer, owner and operator headquartered in Boston with additional locations in Scarborough and San Francisco. This was KeyBanc Capital Markets’ 39th transaction with Longroad Energy.
Commercial operations are expected to begin by late 2023 or early 2024. Major construction contractors include Maine-based E.S. Boulos, Reed & Reed and Comprehensive Land Technologies. Construction is expected to support 150 jobs and generate $60 million in direct purchases of goods and services in Maine.
Agreements are in place to conserve approximately 1,875 acres of mostly forested lands. Spin-off benefits are expected to include $8 million in new property taxes for host communities and the state; community contributions that include $100,000 for internships and research at Unity College; a $25,000 donation to Sebasticook Regional Land Trust and $100,000 to support local scholarship programs and charities.
Power for 30,000 homes
Longroad’s Maine projects to date total 702 MW, more than any other developer in the state, according to a news release. In addition to Three Corners Solar, the portfolio includes solar projects under construction in Augusta, Baldwin, Monmouth and Harmony totaling 26 MWdc and contracts with Bath Iron Works and Walmart.
The Three Corners Solar project will have a footprint of 690 acres under the solar panels. The majority of the project is on property that has been used for commercial timber production and is located within Central Maine Power’s transmission system; the 5.2-mile generator lead line will connect the project to CMP’s Albion Road substation.
When the switch is flipped, enough power will be produced for 30,000 Maine homes. The 200 gigawatt hours of electricity per year will avoid greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 140,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent each year. The avoided CO2 emission is equivalent to taking approximately 30,000 cars off the road for as long as the project operates.
Longroad’s affiliate, Longroad Energy Services, is the asset manager and operator, and will provide remote monitoring services to the project over the long term from its Scarborough-based remote operations center.
Founded in 2016, Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC is focused on wind, solar, and storage project development, operating assets and services. Longroad owns 1.5 gigawatts of wind and solar projects across the U.S. and operates and manages a total of 3.5 GW of wind and solar projects on behalf of Longroad and third parties.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Would we benefit from targeting future solar farms to locations impacted by forever chemicals?
Would we benefit from targeting future solar farms to locations impacted by forever chemicals?
2 Comments