BATH

A couple of options have opened up for home owners and businesses who want to join the solar movement in the Midcoast community.

One is the Solarize Midcoast Maine initiative launched by the Midcoast Economic Development District. This program, mirrored after solarize programs established in Freeport and Brunswick, encompasses more than 20 local towns including Bath, Topsham, Harpswell and Bowdoinham.

Another, more recent option has been offered by ReVision Energy, the installer associated with the Brunswick program, who has announced they will be extending their solarize discount to some neighboring towns also served by MCEDD.

Jennifer Hatch, marketing manager at ReVision, said the company had gotten requests from other communities that were interested in joining the program throughout Brunswick’s launch period.

“At that time we stuck with Brunswick, but then, when we wrapped up … we thought we would keep it going for a little while longer,” she said.

While Hatch was aware of MCEDD’s initiative, she hoped ReVision could also offer services to area towns and build on their existing program.

“I think it will be essentially challenging for any one company to cover that full area well, so we know that people are going to be excited about Solarize and we want to … do something within the Midcoast area and build off on what we have,” Hatch said.

The discount would be offered from now through May for interested residents, she added.

Linda Smith, the business development manager in Brunswick, noted that having various choices available for residents was a positive thing.

“You’ve got a couple of really good vendors out there and they’re both willing to participate in a group discount scenario, in addition to the federal tax cuts,” she said.

When asked about whether the competition might affect MCEDD’s program, Scott LaFlamme, Bath’s community development director, wasn’t worried

“At the end of the day, it’s better for the greater Midcoast area to have access to solar power, and we’re going to still try to provide the most cost competitive option, but it’s certainly up to the homeowners to do what works best for them,” he said.

Solarize Midcoast Maine continues to move along, with five public launch events scheduled between now and March for the MCEDD communities. This will give residents an opportunity to learn more about the program and its installer Sundog Solar, LLC, said LaFlamme.

The company was recently selected as the program’s installer in late January and will be conducting site assessments, as well as completing solar installations for the program.

“We’re really excited. They seem like a really fantastic group to work with — sort of a medium-sized, family owned business in Searsport,” he said, “and they’ve been doing this for a few years now and are looking to expand, so we think they’re going to be great.”

Representatives from Sundog will also be present at the launch to give residents ballpark figures so they know what to expect, he added.

“So it’s a really no-pressure, getting-to-know-you community meeting where Sundog will have an opportunity to explain who they are, what they can offer, sort of how we’ve gotten here and where they plan on going in the future for the duration of the project,” LaFlamme said.

Residents who have not signed up for the program are also encouraged to attend.

“It’s also for people who haven’t signed up who are still interested in learning about the process, and what they can expect for savings,” he said. “It’s certainly open to the public. We encourage anybody who has an interest in it to come and just listen. There are obviously no obligations to do it.”

In November 2015, Bill Najpauer, director of planning and development at MCEDD, had also noted that residents can make a decision about conversion after their homes have been assessed by the installers, free of charge.

So far, the program has been smooth sailing, and LaFlamme was hopeful for its progress.

“People sort of already know what the initiative is and so we’ve got a lot of folks … who are interested in learning more, and may or may not sign up after that,” he said. “So it’s a good opportunity to meet face to face with the installers, gain a level of trust and learn a little bit more about the technology and what it means for their property.”

The five launch events are as follows. All events will take place from 6-8 p.m.:

• Feb. 23 in Bath at City Hall Auditorium, 55 Front St.

• Mar. 2 in Thomaston at Watts Hall, 174 Main St.

• Mar. 9 in Bowdoinham at the Bowdoinham Fire Station, 57 Post Road.

• Mar. 15 in Rockport at Rockport Opera House, 6 Central St.

• Mar. 22 in Topsham at the Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road.

Launch events for Solarize Midcoast Maine

The five launch events for Solarize Midcoast Maine are as follows. All events will take place from 6-8 p.m.:

• Feb. 23 in Bath at City Hall Auditorium, 55 Front St.

• Mar. 2 in Thomaston at Watts Hall, 174 Main St.

• Mar. 9 in Bowdoinham at the Bowdoinham Fire Station, 57 Post Road.

• Mar. 15 in Rockport at Rockport Opera House, 6 Central St.

• Mar. 22 in Topsham at the Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road.

dkim@timesrecord.com