Wednesday evening, Sept. 19, community members and students from Unity College gathered for a tour of the Belfast Pitcher Road solar array, the first municipal solar project in Maine to be built on a former landfill site.

The group went to learn about this innovative project that has inspired a growing number of other municipalities in the state to follow suit, despite Gov. LePage’s repeated veto of bills that would support the growth of solar power in Maine.

Sadie Lloyd, City Planner for the City of Belfast, shared the incredible success of this project.

"By the end of 2018 the City of Belfast will have the most municipal-owned solar of any city or town in the state, and will be offsetting nearly 90 percent of the municipal electric load. Belfast’s solar investments, paired with smart building and system design, are key to helping the City plan a new Public Works facility that will have virtually no annual fuel bill and a waste water treatment plant that will run almost entirely on renewable fuels, further reducing and stabilizing the municipal budget," she said, in a news release.

Hans Albee, Solar System Designer for ReVision Energy, said: “ReVision Energy is committed to helping all our customers, from home and business owners to municipalities and nonprofits, realize the benefits of renewable energy. The City of Belfast has been a progressive and forward-thinking leader in recognizing the potential of renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic technology is cost-effective, rapidly scalable, and a key tool in reducing our region’s reliance on fossil fuels.”

Beth Ahearn, Political Director at Maine Conservation Voters praised the City of Belfast for their innovation.

"Maine Conservation Voters applauds Belfast for leading the way on municipal owned solar. This town is proving that solar energy can reduce the municipal budget as well as their dependence on fossil fuel. This means that the air we breathe is cleaner and better for our health. We hope that other towns across Maine will be inspired by this example.”

Following the guided tour, the group reconvened for a meet-and-greet at Three Tides and Marshall Wharf Brewing Company.