TRENTON — Many Mainers are making the switch to solar power, but can the current electrical infrastructure support residential solar panels on a large scale?
Apparently not, as one resident of Trenton discovered after applying to have solar panels installed at his home and interconnected to the grid.
kAm|2EE "F:?? @7 %C6?E@? H2D E@=5 3J '6CD2?E !@H6C E92E 96 42??@E :?E6C4@??64E D@=2C A2?6=D 2E 9:D 9@>6 E@ E96 6I:DE:?8 A@H6C 8C:5 3642FD6 E96 42A24:EJ 7@C 6=64EC:4:EJ 36:?8 D6?E 324< E@ E96 8C:5 7C@> 9@>6D :? 9:D 2C62 92D 366? C624965]k^Am
kAm“q642FD6 '6CD2?E’D 8C:5 :? @FC A2CE:4F=2C 2C62 :D 2=C625J >2I65 @FE H:E9 D@=2C 4@?DF>6CD D6?5:?8 A@H6C 324<[ E96J 56?:65 @FC 2AA=:42E:@?[” "F:?? HC@E6 :? 2? 6>2:= E@ %96 p>6C:42?] “%96J ,'6CD2?E. H@F=5 ?665 E@ FA8C256 E96:C 4:C4F:ED :? @FC 2C62[ 2?5 '6CD2?E 4@?D:56CD E9:D 36J@?5 E96 D4@A6 @7 2 ‘>:?@C FA8C256]’”k^Am
kAm"F:?? :D 4@?46C?65 E92E 2D E96 42A24:EJ @7 E96 A@H6C 8C:5 :D C624965[ E96C6 H:== 36 2 42A @? C6D:56?ED H9@ 2C6 2==@H65 E@ FD6 D@=2C A@H6C :? 2C62D D6CG:465 3J '6CD2?E] (:E9@FE :?7C2DECF4EFC6 FA8C256D[ @E96C C6D:56?ED 4@F=5 7:?5 E96>D6=G6D :? 2 D:>:=2C D:EF2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“(:E9@FE '6CD2?E A6C7@C>:?8 FA8C256D[ H6 H:== D@@? C6249 2 >2I:>F> 2>@F?E @7 C6D:56?ED H9@ 42? 92G6 C@@7E@A D@=2C[” "F:?? HC@E6]k^Am
kAmrFCC6?E=J[ E96 A@H6C 8C:5 E92E "F:?? :D 4@??64E65 E@ H@F=5 ?665 >2;@C FA8C256D E@ 6?92?46 42A24:EJ] p44@C5:?8 E@ '6CD2?E[ 4FDE@>6CD :?DE2==:?8 D@=2C A2?6=D 2C6 7:?2?4:2==J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C E96 4@DE @7 E96D6 FA8C256D[ 5C2DE:42==J :?4C62D:?8 E96 4@DE @7 :?DE2==:?8 D@=2C A2?6=D]k^Am
kAm“%9@D6 D66<:?8 E@ :?E6C4@??64E 2C6 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2?J 8C:5 FA8C256D E@ :?E6C4@??64E[” D2:5 yF5J {@?8[ >2?286C @7 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 7@C '6CD2?E !@H6C] “(6 5@?’E H2?E 4FDE@>6CD H9@ 2C6?’E 36?67:E:?8 7C@> E92E E@ A2J 7@C E9@D6 FA8C256D]”k^Am
kAm%96 8C:5 42A24:EJ :DDF6 :D 364@>:?8 >@C6 2?5 >@C6 @7 2 AC@3=6> 2D >@C6 A6@A=6 :?DE2== D@=2C A2?6=D] |2:?6’D 6=64EC:42= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 H2D ?@E 56D:8?65 E@ 92?5=6 D@ >2?J 9@>6D D6?5:?8 A@H6C 324< E@ E96 8C:5] (:E9 E96 ?F>36C @7 9@>6 D@=2C A2?6=D @? E96 C:D6 5F6 E@ DE2E6 :?46?E:G6D[ E96 DE2E6’D :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :D BF:4<=J 364@>:?8 @G6CH96=>65]k^Am
kAm“$:?46 E96 =2HD 2?5 :?46?E:G6D H6C6 3C@256?65 :? a_`h H6’G6 D66? 2 5C2>2E:4 FAE:4< :? A6@A=6 =@@<:?8 E@ :?E6C4@??64E[” {@?8 D2:5] “%96 8C:5 H2D ?6G6C >62?E E@ 244@>>@52E6 H:56DAC625 EH@\H2J A@H6C]”k^Am
kAm%96 :DDF6 :D E92E H:E9 E@@ >2?J D@=2C A2?6=D 4@>6D E@@ >F49 6=64EC:4:EJ] (:E9 D@ >2?J A6@A=6 86?6C2E:?8 E96:C @H? 6=64EC:4:EJ 2?5 D6?5:?8 :E 324< E@ E96 8C:5[ E96C6 :D ?@E 6?@F89 56>2?5 7@C E96 6IEC2 A@H6C 86?6C2E65 3J :?5:G:5F2=D]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 H2J >@C6 D@=2C 42A24:EJ =@@<:?8 E@ :?E6C4@??64E E92? H6 92G6 56>2?5 7@C 6=64EC:4:EJ[” {@?8 D2:5] “x? D@>6 2C62D H6 ;FDE 42??@E 255 D@=2C H:E9@FE E9C62E6?:?8 E96 C6=:23:=:EJ 2?5 D276EJ @7 E96 8C:5]”k^Am
kAmpD @?6 @7 E96 AC@>:?6?E :?DE2==6CD @7 D@=2C A2?6=D :? E96 C68:@?[ s2??J !:A6C[ @H?6C @7 $F?5@8 $@=2C :? $62CDA@CE[ 92D 2 7C@?E\C@H D62E E@ E96 A@H6C 8C:5’D =:>:ED 36:?8 C624965] w6 92D D66? >2?J A@E6?E:2= 4FDE@>6CD 36 56?:65 2446DD E@ D@=2C 6?6C8J 5F6 E@ '6CD2?E’D =:>:E2E:@?D[ 2?5 E96 4FDE@>6C’D :?23:=:EJ E@ A2J 7@C =2C86 D42=6 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :>AC@G6>6?ED]k^Am
kAm“%96J’C6 C6BF:C:?8 255:E:@?2= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 FA8C256D E@ @FC 4FDE@>6CD[ E9:?8D E92E 92G6 ?6G6C 366? C6BF:C65 :? E96 A2DE[” !:A6C D2:5] “%96J 2C6 5@==2C 2>@F?ED =2C86 6?@F89 E@ >2<6 A6@A=6 E9:?< EH:46]”k^Am
kAm!:A6C :D 5:D4@FC2865 3J E96 42A24:EJ =:>:E2E:@?D @? |2:?6’D 6=64EC:42= :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ 6DA64:2==J 2D 96 D66D >@C6 A6@A=6 D9:7E:?8 E@ 2 >@C6 6=64EC:4\46?EC:4 =:76DEJ=6] x? 2? 677@CE E@ C65F46 56A6?56?4J @? 7@DD:= 7F6=D 2?5 D2G6 >@?6J @? @:=[ A6@A=6 2C6 >@G:?8 E@H2C5 6=64EC:4 2=E6C?2E:G6D :? 2?5 @FE @7 E96 9@>6[ 3FE E96 8C:5 :D 92G:?8 2 5:77:4F=E E:>6 <66A:?8 FA]k^Am
kAm“%96 =@25 :D 8C@H:?8[ 6G6CJ3@5J :D 6=64EC:7J:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 :? E96:C =:76[” !:A6C D2:5] “~FC A62< =@25 :D 8@:?8 E@ AC@323=J EC:A=6 @C 8C62E6C H:E9 E96 6=64EC:7:42E:@? @7 962E:?8 2?5 EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ D@ E92E 2=@?6 :D 8@:?8 E@ 42FD6 E96 ?665 E@ FA52E6 @FC 8C:5]”k^Am
kAmx? !:A6C’D @A:?:@?[ E96 @?=J H2J E@ >2<6 D@=2C 6?6C8J 2 C62=:DE:4 8@2= E@ >@DE |2:?6CD :D E@ 4@?5F4E DE2E6H:56[ =2C86\D42=6 FA8C256D E@ E96 A@H6C 8C:5 :?7C2DECF4EFC6] w6 D2JD E9:D >FDE 36 5@?6 2E 2 DE2E6 =6G6=[ 2?5 E96 4@DE @7 E96 FA8C256D >FDE 36 A2:5 4@==64E:G6=J C2E96C E92? 492C8:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD E@ 62E E96 4@DE @7 FA8C25:?8 2 8C:5 E92E 9F?5C65D @7 @E96C A6@A=6 FD6]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 =68:D=2E:G6 24E:@? E@ 5@ E92E 3642FD6 :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 E96 D@4:2=:K2E:@? @7 E96D6 ,FA8C25:?8. 6IA6?D6D[” !:A6C D2:5] “%96 DE2E6 92D E@ 5@ E9:D 3642FD6 E96 DE2E6 :D H9@ >2?52E6D '6CD2?E]”k^Am
kAm$E2E6 $6?] }:4@=6 vC@9@D<: Ws\t==DH@CE9X D2:5 E92E AFEE:?8 E96 3FC56? @7 6=64EC:42= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 FA8C256D @? 2== A@H6C 4FDE@>6CD H@F=5 36 2? 6IA6?D:G6 E2D<] (9:=6 :?5:G:5F2=D A2J:?8 7@C FA8C256D :D @7E6? ?@E 2? @AE:@?[ >2<:?8 E96 4@DE 4@==64E:G6 H@F=5 C2:D6 2=C625J 9:89 6=64EC:4:EJ C2E6D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 492==6?8:?8 3642FD6 H6 2=C625J 92G6 C62==J 9:89 C2E6D :? E96 DE2E6 @7 |2:?6[” vC@9@D<: D2:5] “xE’D 8@:?8 E@ 4@DE |2:?6 C2E6A2J6CD >@C6]”k^Am
kAm%92E 36:?8 D2:5[ E96 DE2E6 8@G6C?>6?E :D H@C<:?8 E@ 96=A D@=G6 E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 AC@3=6>] $@ 72C[ E96 {68:D=2EFC6 92D C6BF6DE65 E92E E96 !F3=:4 &E:=:E:6D r@>>:DD:@? W!&rX 4@?5F4E 2 8C:5 A=2??:?8 AC@46DD E@ 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 E96 4@?5:E:@? @7 4FCC6?E :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :? 5:776C6?E 2C62D @7 E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm“w@A67F==J F?56CE2<:?8 E92E AC@46DD D9@F=5 D9@H H92E :D 24EF2==J 92AA6?:?8 @? E96 8C@F?5[” vC@9@D<: D2:5] “(96C6 5@6D E96 8C:5 ?665 E@ 36 C63F:=E 2?5 :? H92E @C56C]”k^Am
kAmvC@9@D<: 2=D@ H2?ED E@ 4C62E6 2 C6D@FC46 7@C :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 2C6 4@?D:56C:?8 D@=2C 6?6C8J 7@C E96:C 9@>6D] %9:D H@F=5 36 2 >2A E92E H@F=5 2==@H A6@A=6 =@@<:?8 E@ :?DE2== D@=2C A2?6=D E@ D66 :7 E96:C A@H6C 8C:5 4@F=5 DFAA@CE :?E6C4@??64E:@?] x7 E96 {68:D=2EFC6 42??@E D@=G6 E96 AC@3=6> 6?E:C6=J[ D96 H2?ED E@ 96=A A6@A=6 <?@H H92E E96:C @AE:@?D 2C6[ 2?5 96=A E9@D6 =@@<:?8 :?E@ C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J @AE:@?D D2G6 E:>6 2?5 677@CE :? 7:8FC:?8 @FE H92E :D 2G2:=23=6 E@ E96>]k^Am
kAm“%96 @E96C E9:?8 E92E x’> 8@:?8 E@ 36 C6BF6DE:?8[ >@DE =:<6=J E9C@F89 E96 {68:D=2EFC6[ :D 2 5J?2>:4 9@DE:?8 42A24:EJ >2A[” vC@9@D<: D2:5] “{6E A6@A=6 D66 H96C6 E96C6 :D 42A24:EJ E@ 2446AE C6?6H23=6D @? E96 8C:5]”k^Am
kAmpD 7@C 24EF2==J >2<:?8 42A24:EJ FA8C256D E@ E96 4FCC6?E 6=64EC:42= :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ vC@9@D<: D2:5 E9:D :D ?@E 2? 62DJ F?56CE2<:?8 5F6 E@ E96 H2J FE:=:E:6D 2C6 >2?2865] !@H6C 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 4@>A2?:6D 27E6C 2==[ 2?5 2C6 ?@E =:<6=J E@ E2<6 FA 2 4@DE=J 6?562G@C E92E H:== 9:?56C E96:C 23:=:EJ E@ EFC? 2 AC@7:E :? E96 D9@CE E6C>]k^Am
kAm“p 4C:E:42= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 E92E @FC 64@?@>J C6=:6D @? :D 2 7@C\AC@7:E >@?@A@=J[” vC@9@D<: D2:5] “%96 BF6DE:@? E96? :D H9@ D9@F=5 A2Jn xD E96C6 2 D@4:6E2= 36?67:En xD E9:D 2? FA8C256 E92E ?665D E@ 92AA6? 2?JH2Jn”k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 E96C6 >2J ?@E 36 2 4=62C D@=FE:@? 2E E96 AC6D6?E E:>6[ =68:D=2E@CD 2C6 <66A:?8 4=@D6 E23D @? E96 :DDF6 @7 A@H6C 8C:5 42A24:EJ[ 2?5 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C H2JD E@ C6D@=G6 E96 :DDF6D 42FD65 3J @FE52E65 :?7C2DECF4EFC6]k^Am
kAm“{68:D=2E@CD 2C6 2H2C6 @7 E96 AC@3=6> 2?5 H6 2C6 9@A67F= E92E @FC E649?:42= DE277 2?5 E96 !&r 42? H@C< E@H2C5D D@=FE:@?D[” vC@9@D<: D2:5]k^Am
kAmp?E9@?J #@?K:@[ 56AFEJ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 v@G6C?@C’D ~77:46 @? !@=:4J x??@G2E:@? 2?5 E96 uFEFC6[ D2:5 E92E 6IA2?5:?8 E96 4FCC6?E 8C:5 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 H2D 2 AC:@C:EJ 7@C E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm“tIA2?5:?8 E96 42A24:EJ @7 @FC 6=64EC:42= 8C:5 E@ C65F46 @FC C6=:2?46 @? 7@DD:= 7F6=D 2?5 25G2?46 4@DE\67764E:G6 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J AC@;64ED :D 2 AC:@C:EJ ?@E @?=J 7@C |2:?6[ 3FE 2== @7 }6H t?8=2?5[ 2?5 :D E96 DF3;64E @7 4FCC6?E A=2??:?8 2?5 :?G6DE>6?E 677@CED[” #@?K:@ HC@E6 :? 2? 6>2:= E@ %96 p>6C:42?]k^Am
kAm#@?K:@ 2=D@ 56D4C:365 677@CED E92E E96 DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?ED 92G6 >256 E@ C6D@=G6 E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :DDF6] w6 4:E65 {s `hdh[ H9:49 :D 2 A:646 @7 =68:D=2E:@? >62?E E@ :>AC@G6 E96 A=2??:?8 @7 6=64EC:42= 8C:5D E@ >66E |2:?6’D 7FEFC6 6?6C8J ?665D 2?5 8@2=D[ 2?5 E96 u656C2= q:A2CE:D2? x?7C2DECF4EFC6 {2H[ H9:49 :?46?E:G:K6D 6=64EC:42= 8C:5 :>AC@G6>6?E] x? E96 >62?E:>6[ #@?K:@ 6?4@FC286D |2:?6CD E@ <66A :?G6DE:?8 :? 4=62? 6?6C8J[ 3FE 2=D@ E@ 36 2H2C6 @7 E96 =:>:E2E:@?D E92E 8C:5 42A24:EJ A@D6D 2E E96 >@>6?E]k^Am
kAm“,%96 3:==. 4C62E6D 2 AC@46DD 7@C :?E68C2E65 A=2??:?8 H:E9 |2:?6’D FE:=:E:6D 7@C 7FEFC6 :?G6DE>6?ED :? |2:?6’D 8C:5 E@ DFAA@CE @FC DE2E6’D DE2EFE@CJ 4=:>2E6 2?5 4=62? 6?6C8J E2C86ED] uFCE96C 8C:5 :?G6DE>6?ED 2C6 2=D@ 2?E:4:A2E65 @? 2 DE2E6 2?5 C68:@?2= =6G6= E9C@F89 E96 u656C2= q:A2CE:D2? x?7C2DECF4EFC6 {2H[” #@?K:@ HC@E6] “pD E96D6 AC@46DD6D >@G6 7@CH2C5[ H6 6?4@FC286 |2:?6 4@?DF>6CD :?E6C6DE65 :? :?G6DE:?8 :? 4=62? 6?6C8J E649?@=@8J — =:<6 D@=2C — E@ H@C< 4=@D6=J H:E9 E96:C D@=2C :?DE2==6C 2?5 FE:=:E:6D E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 :?E6C4@??64E:@? 42A24:EJ :? E96:C 2C62 2?5 >2<6 564:D:@?D 244@C5:?8=J]”k^Am
