Project Description

Three Corners Solar is a utility-scale solar project located in Benton, Clinton, and Unity Township in Kennebec County, Maine, that has received full notice to proceed and began construction in November 2022. At 152MWdc and located in the heart of Central Maine Power’s transmission system, the project will produce enough power for 30,000 Maine homes and will displace the dirtiest and most expensive generation. This $200 million investment offers economic, environmental, and community benefits, including ~$8 million in new property taxes for host communities and the State of Maine. The project has committed to a number of community contributions, including an agreement with Unity College to provide $100,000 for internships and research, a $25,000 donation to Sebasticook Regional Land Trust to support their land conservation and stewardship projects, and $100,000 to support local scholarship programs and charitable organizations. Additionally, the project has agreements in place to conserve approximately ~1,875 acres of predominately forested lands.

The Longroad team has a proven track record of developing, financing, constructing, and operating wind and solar projects in Maine. To date the Longroad team has successfully developed 702 MW in Maine, more than any other developer in the State. In addition to Three Corners Solar, the Longroad Team has a portfolio of distributed generation solar projects under construction across Maine in Augusta, Baldwin, Monmouth, and Harmony totaling 26 MWdc and contracted with Bath Iron Works and Walmart.

Recent News

Virtual Public Information Meeting, January 25, 6-8pm EST

Thank you to all who joined our virtual public informational meeting on Tuesday January 25, 2022. A recording of this meeting is available below for viewing. Should you have any questions for the Longroad team, please email us at ThreeCornersSolar@LongroadEnergy.com

Public Participation in the Licensing Process

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MAINE WON’T WAIT: A Four-Year Plan for Climate Action

MAINE WON’T WAIT:
A Four-Year Plan for Climate Action

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The strategies proposed by the Maine Climate Council in its plan include, "a transition over time to a largely electrified transportation and buildings sector, combined with a transition to a clean electricity sector, allowing for significant greenhouse emissions reductions."

STRENGTHENIG Maine’s Clean Energy Economy

STRENGTHENING
Maine’s Clean Energy Economy

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Job creation in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors could accelerate Maine’s economic recovery according to a report by the State of Maine.

Project Summary

  • 152 MWdc (110 MWac) solar project located in Kennebec County Maine, sited in the towns of Benton and Clinton, and the unorganized township of Kennebec County called Unity Township.
  • Five years in development, the project has received full notice to proceed, closed on financing and has begun construction.
  • Largest solar project in Maine will generate approximately 200 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power ~30,000 homes (EIA calculator).
  • Footprint of ~690 acres under solar panels.
  • Total project investment ~$200 million.
  • A 5.2 mile generator lead line connects the project to Central Maine Power’s (CMP’s) Albion Road substation.
  • Commercial operations expected by late 2023 or early 2024.
  • EDF Energy Services will purchase the total output of the project via a long-term PPA, using the renewable energy to supply its corporate customer load in New England. It is the largest corporate PPA in the New England power grid signed to date. Three Corners Solar will also contribute to the reliability of the Maine and the New England power grid by providing capacity to the ISO-NE system.

Maine Economic & Community Impact

  • Generating ~$8 million in property taxes for host communities and the State of Maine.
  • During development, approximately $5 million was spent with in-state businesses and services.
  • The construction phase is expected to support 150 jobs at peak and generate ~$60 million in direct purchases of goods and services in Maine.
  • Major construction contractors include Maine-based E.S. Boulos, Reed & Reed, and Comprehensive Land Technologies.
  • Additional community contributions include:
    • $100,000 ($5,000 per year) to local scholarship programs and charitable organizations during the 20-year operating term of the project.
    • A pledge of $100,000 to Unity College to fund internships and research opportunities for faculty and students in renewable energy.
    • $25,000 to Sebasticook Regional Land Trust to support conservation efforts.

Environmental Impact/Stewardship

  • The project will generate approximately 200 gigawatt hours of electricity per year, which corresponds to avoided greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 140,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent each year.
    • That avoided CO2 emission is equivalent to taking approximately ~30,000 cars off the road for as long as the project operates.
  • The project also conserved ~1,875 acres of land in the region, including 1,020 acres in the Unity Wetlands Focus Area, 324 acres in Readfield, Maine and 531 acres in Shirley, Maine. Conservation agreements will protect high value wetlands, deer wintering areas, inland waterfowl wading bird habitat, and critical terrestrial habitat.
  • The majority of the project is sited on property that has traditionally been used for commercial timber production, a practice that will continue nearby.

Financing

  • U.S. Bank and KeyBank N.A. provided debt financing
  • U.S. Bank was the sole Tax Equity investor

Equipment/O&M

  • Modules: First Solar Series 6/6+
  • Inverters: Power Electronics 3430
  • Structure: Nextracker single axis tracking
  • 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, ME-based Remote Operations Center (ROC).
1Calculation made through the EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator

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