Kennebunk receives $75K grant for Waterhouse Center solar panels
Kennebunk receives $75K grant for Waterhouse Center solar panels
Special to Seacoastonline | news@seacoastonline.com
KENNEBUNK — The town of Kennebunk has been awarded a $75,000 Community Action Grant from Maine’s Community Resilience Partnership to install rooftop solar panels on the Waterhouse Center.
The funding, announced by the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future on May 1, was officially accepted by the town’s Select Board in a unanimous vote on May 27.
The grant is part of an $8 million initiative supporting climate resilience projects across Maine, aiding communities in mitigating risks from flooding, storm surge, and other climate-related challenges. The funding, which was approved by the Legislature in the May 2024 supplemental budget, will support projects in 166 communities throughout the state.
Kennebunk, as a member of the Community Resilience Partnership, met the eligibility criteria for the grant, having previously participated in a project that funded its Climate Action Plan.
Town officials have been working with ReVision Energy to develop a proposal for installing approximately 124 solar panels on the southern side of the Waterhouse Center’s roof. The facility was chosen due to its high energy consumption and the availability of planning documents needed for assessing the project scope. According to forecasts based on the center’s historic energy usage, the new solar installation is expected to generate approximately 15,803 kWh annually, translating to an estimated savings of $6,891.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $107,000, with the grant covering a significant portion. While the remaining balance was expected to be funded through the 30% Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit, recent developments indicate that it may not be available. If that is the case, the town will utilize other funding sources to make up the difference.
Officials said the project is expected to take approximately two years to implement due to recognized delays in the clean energy market. The installation, they said, will be carefully coordinated to minimize disruption to the Waterhouse Center.