Southern Maine Solar Collaborative
The Maine Net Energy Billing program allows municipalities to offset their electricity bills using the output from small renewable generators such as solar farms. Many of SMPDC’s member municipalities are being approached by solar developers with offers for Net Energy Billing Contract Agreements (NEBCAs). The Southern Maine Solar Collaborative (SMSC) is a group of municipalities that have agreed to participate in a shared, voluntary, cooperative initiative to implement a joint procurement process for a master NEBCA that may be adopted by all participating Members. Current member towns include Fryeburg, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Ogunquit, Old Orchard Beach, and Waterboro.
There are many advantages to this collaborative procurement process, including: better pricing options enabled by larger procurement; reduced municipal staff time; competitive contract terms; and peer learning and support.
SMSC Memorandum of Understanding
- SMPDC, on behalf of the 6 municipalities, solicited proposals from distributed generation solar developers for a master NEBCA for the municipalities to participate in the Net Energy Billing Tariff Rate Program. Questions Answered - FINAL
- Bid Awarded: Encore Renewable Energy
Outside of the collaborative procurement, our sustainability staff and land use planners work to educate towns about solar procurement, development review, and other challenges and opportunities. See some of our recent outreach below:
Natural Resources Council of Maine: Southern Maine Solar Forum