Woolwich selectmen are considering going solar to reduce the town’s electric bill.

Nick Sampson of ReVision Energy made an initial presentation Sept. 6 for installation of a solar array, town officials said. Sampson works with schools, towns and nonprofit organizations to reduce their energy expenses and carbon emissions through solar energy.  

Afterwards, Chairman David King Sr. referred to the proposal as a “win-win all the way around.”

King said the arrangement with ReVision Energy would be similar to a project it did for Belfast. The Liberty-based company installed a 45.9kw solar electric array on the fire station, financing it through a “power-purchase agreement.”

“We were told there are no upfront costs to the town,” King continued. “It looks like a good proposition but we wouldn’t go forward with this unless it was approved by the townspeople at a town meeting.” The annual town meeting will be held the last Saturday in April.

ReVision Energy will look at three different locations for building the array including the municipal building and Nequasset Meeting House. The third is on the fire department’s North Station building on Chopps Cross Road.

Initially the town had looked at building a solar array on the site of the old landfill but found the location unsuitable. “They told us we didn’t use enough power to justify the expense,” explained King.

ReVision Energy will return with a more formalized proposal for selectmen to consider in two to three weeks.

“I think it's definitely worth pursuing,” Selectman Allison told the Wiscasset Newspaper. She said she looks forward to seeing the complete proposal.

“I do think that, given the financial implications for the town down the road, we need to make sure townspeople get to hear how it works,” she said.

Hepler supports the idea of the community reducing its carbon footprint. She noted Maine has experienced firsthand the effects of climate change due to greenhouse emissions. “Especially on the coast here, we've seen sea level changes that have impacted the lobster and clamming industries,” she added.

Revision Energy has constructed more than 5,000 solar energy systems over the last 10 years including two at the Morris Farm in Wiscasset.

In other business, selectmen approved a request from the fire department to purchase a new trailer. The cost with the present trailer in trade will be just under $1,700.

The Smith-Tobey Post #21 of the American Legion presented Selectman Lloyd Coombs with a certificate recognizing his years of military service. Coombs, 82, recently announced he was retiring from public office at the conclusion of his term in December.

Nomination papers are available at the town office for two seats on the board of selectmen. Each must contain at least 25 but no more than 100 signatures of residents registered to vote in Woolwich.

The deadline for returning papers is 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 19. Five residents have taken out nomination papers.