The city of South Portland celebrated the completion of a 4.7 megawatt solar array located on top of the city’s capped landfill with a ceremony on Oct. 27. More than 80 percent of the city’s municipal electric load will now be offset by solar. The array will generate an estimated 5.8-million-kilowatt hours of renewable energy each year.

In 2017, the project began with a 1016 kW array, the largest municipal solar project in the state at the time. In 2022, the project was expanded with Landfill East and Landfill West that added 474 kW (DC) and 3,251 kW (DC) to the total. According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the combined project has the highest power potential of any solar array built on a municipal landfill in the state.

The project will offset 63 percent of South Portland’s municipal electric load and 4,100 metric tons of annual carbon emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The solar array is projected to save taxpayers more than 20 million dollars over 40 years and eliminate about 4,100 tons of carbon pollution every year for the next four decades.

Additionally, the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act will further reduce clean energy costs in 2023 and beyond, making solar power, heat pumps, battery storage and electric vehicles the most attractive options for homeowners, businesses, nonprofits and municipalities.

“The city of South Portland is thrilled to announce the completion of this multi-phase project,” said City Manager Scott Morelli. “Thanks to this extraordinary collaborative effort, solar energy now powers the vast majority of municipal operations — a win for both the environment and taxpayers.”

Through Power Purchase Agreements managed by ReVision Energy, the project was financed with no cost to the city of South Portland. Calibrant Energy, a distributed energy company deploying Energy-as-a-Service solutions, paid the upfront cost and the city will pay for the power generated from the solar panels each month at a rate lower than utility-provided power. The city has the option to purchase the system at a reduced price after seven years, and own all of the solar power generated for the remainder of the warranty period and 40-year commercial lifespan.

Many local electricians, electrical apprentices, engineers, and other solar professionals were employed in the development and construction of the project.

“Transitioning society from fossil fuels to renewable energy and clean technology is the biggest infrastructure project in the history of humankind, and one of the greatest wealth creation opportunities of the 21st century,” said Phil Coupe, co-founder of ReVision Energy. “The city of South Portland’s clean energy leadership is already saving taxpayers money while significantly reducing local carbon pollution.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the project on Oct. 27. Guests included South Portland Mayor Deqa Dhalac, Director of Partnerships at Calibrant Energy Thomas Biddinger, co-founder of Revision Energy Phil Coupe, and South Portland Sustainability Director Julie Rosenbach.

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