West Baldwin, MainE
West Baldwin Solar Station is a 22.0 MWDC Solar PV project, located in Baldwin and Hiram, Maine.
The project is sited on secluded, privately owned land, connecting to an existing Central Maine Power (“CMP”) transmission line. The power will be sold to CMP at competitive rates, and delivered to local ratepayers.
The project will use bifacial solar panels, which increase the amount more electricity particularly on dull days.
The site is leased from two local landowners who have been residents of Baldwin for many years. Approximately 80% of the project land area is in Baldwin, and approximately 20% is in Hiram.
West Baldwin Solar Station is scheduled to begin construction in 2024. Once operational the project will generate emission free electricity for decades, offsetting over 590,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over thirty years. In the first year of service, emissions avoided by West Baldwin Solar Station will equal the carbon sequestered by 40 square miles of forest.
LOCATION
1 Anderson Road
Baldwin, Maine
04091
Latitude: 43.865633
Longitude: -70.788932
project documents
Hiram CUP Project Narrative
Hiram CUP Submission Transmittal
Project updates
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued West Baldwin Solar Station a Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) permit and a Site Location of Development Act (SLODA) permit on 07/28/21
PERMIT APPROVED
The US Army Corp of Engineers issued West Baldwin Solar Station a Maine General Permit Authorization Letter on 06/11/21.
PERMIT APPROVED
PERMIT APPROVED
The Hiram Planning Board voted to issue West Baldwin Solar Station a Conditional Use Permit on 06/09/21.
PUBLIC HEARING
The Hiram Planning Board is planning to hold a public hearing for West Baldwin Solar Station on 06/08/21 at 7:00 PM. The meeting will be held in person at the Hiram Municipal Offices located at 16 Nasons Way, Hiram, ME 04041.
PERMIT APPROVED
The Baldwin Planning Board voted to issue West Baldwin Solar Station a Conditional Use Permit on 05/13/21, and issued the permit on 05/14/21.
PUBLIC HEARING
The Baldwin Planning Board held a public hearing for West Baldwin Solar Station on 04/22/21 at 7:00 PM. The hearing was closed that evening, with a vote scheduled for 05/13/21.
SITE VISIT
The Baldwin Planning Board held a site visit for West Baldwin Solar Station on 03/21/21 at 1:00 PM. The site visit was attended by members of the public, and members of the Planning Boards of Baldwin and Hiram.
PERMIT APPLICATION
West Baldwin Solar Station applied for a Conditional Use Permit in the Town of Hiram on 01/26/21.
PPA EXECUTED
On 01/15/21 Central Maine Power filed the executed energy contract with West Baldwin Solar Station with the Maine Public Utility Commission
PPA APPROVED
On 12/22/20 the Maine Public Utility Commission approved the energy contract between West Baldwin Solar Station and Central Maine Power. The contract will now be executed by the parties.
West Baldwin Solar Station applied for a Conditional Use Permit in the Town of Baldwin on 12/04/20.
PERMIT APPLICATION
PERMIT APPLICATION
West Baldwin Solar Station applied for a Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) permit to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection on 11/06/20.
PERMIT APPLICATION
West Baldwin Solar Station applied for a Site Location of Development Act (SLODA) permit to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection on 10/23/20.
PUBLIC MEETING
West Baldwin Solar Station held a public meeting in accordance with Maine Department of Environmental Protection requirements on 10/01/20. The meeting was held via Zoom.
PPA SELECTION
West Baldwin Solar Station was selected by the Maine Public Utility Commission (“MPUC”) to enter into an energy contract with Central Maine Power on 09/22/20. The order was issued under the RPS Tranche 1 procurement managed by the MPUC.
community
West Baldwin Solar Station will be a model for positive community engagement. The project will preserve Baldwin and Hiram's recreational and natural resources while allowing the local generation of affordable and reliable clean energy.
Glenvale will establish a community benefits plan and contribute to local initiatives and causes. Do you have a suggested good cause that you think Glenvale can support? Please let us know.
We have partnered with longstanding local owners to lease the land on which the project will be built. The project will not be visible from public roads or publicly accessible trails, nor will it require any new transmission line construction.
environment
The site is ideal for a modern renewable energy power plant, avoiding impact to critical natural resources. The project will not be visible from the scenic highways or trails in either town. The project will improve the area’s natural resources by providing acres of cultivated habitat for pollinators.
West Baldwin Solar Station is located on land currently managed for timber harvesting. No prime farmland will be used for the project; all logged trees are already planned for commercial harvest, and no new transmission lines will be constructed.
West Baldwin Solar Station will generate an estimated 29,475 megawatt hours of emission free energy in its first operating year; that’s enough to power 4,362 typical Maine homes. Over the first thirty-years of operation, the project will generate 834,833 megawatt hours of renewable energy, and avoid the emission of 591,896 tons of carbon dioxide. The energy generated by West Baldwin Solar Station will be delivered to the CMP transmission system using existing infrastructure, and used locally.
Economic impact
The project will be a critical source of employment and property taxes for Baldwin and Hiram. We expect to generate over one hundred construction jobs. Maine residents and Maine based business will be prioritized for contracting and employment opportunities.
The project will be a major tax-payer in each community. We expect to discuss a mutually beneficial agreement related to new taxes with the elected leadership in each community.
Glenvale has established an Apprenticeship Program in partnership with a leading local Community Development Financing Institution (CDFI). The Apprenticeship Program will support new employment opportunities for up to fifteen transitioning workers. Program participants will be selected based on their promise, training needs, and their ability to benefit from a structured training program. Interested in participating? Let us know.