A division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding a $1.5 million loan to help offset the cost of developing solar power at Brunswick Landing.

USDA Rural Development is providing the money through its Electric Loan Program to assist Diversified Communications in paying for the solar farm infrastructure at the former Navy base. The program provides capital to maintain, upgrade and modernize rural electric infrastructure, according to a statement from the federal agency.

“Modern infrastructure is a necessity — not an amenity — for any community, to thrive, including Brunswick,” said Timothy Hobbs, state director for the USDA Rural Development, in making the award Wednesday. “No matter what zip code you live in, infrastructure is a foundation for quality of life and economic opportunity.”

Portland solar company ReVision Energy installed over 4,500 photovoltaic panels at Brunswick Landing, its largest solar installation to date in Maine. The 1.5-megawatt project is already online.

It was made possible through a power purchase agreement under which the system is owned and operated by a third-party owner, Diversified, which will sell the electricity to Brunswick Landing for up to 25 years, though Brunswick Landing has the option to purchase the system outright after six years.

The solar array is expected to provide 13.3 percent of Brunswick Landing’s annual electric load from on-site renewable energy, and eliminate over 2,018,800 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Diversified Communications, a Portland-based event planning and publishing company, said it wanted to diversify its business, and is interested in supporting renewable power projects.


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