Solar’s Island Institute

Unfortunately, island communities don’t have economies of scale or local fossil fuel resources. This are the reasons for drastic increases in energy prices compared to mainland peers. A case in point, islands off the coast of Maine; Isle au Haut and Monhegan, are evaluating their energy futures.

The Energy Department and EERE are aiding to address these concerns through the Energy Transition Initiative (ETI). ETI gives technical resources to encourage communities to fulfill clean energy goals and in transition to a clean energy economy.

The Island Institute, that worked to sustain Maine's island and coastal communities since 1983. They review concerns that other islands face as well; dependable and less expensive power supply. Isle au Haut gains electricity via an undersea cable that’s 3 years past its lifespan.

Should it fail, the island must rely on a diesel generator for power. Mid-winter breakdowns might not get repaired for at least a week. The resilience and redundancy in the controls or equipment is important during the transition to solar energy.

On Monhegan island, electricity runs off diesel generators and its residents charter a special boat for fuel deliveries. This results in high electricity cost on the island, supporting the exploration of local and sustainable clean energy resources.

EERE’s Mission ​​​​

The Island Institute developed solutions to several of these energy concerns. Their “Weatherization Weeks,” where neighbors pool together a few residential retrofit projects to reduce the transaction prices are estimated to have saved participating communities over $2 million. On Monhegan, nearly 90% of homes have taken energy assessments through Weatherization Weeks.

The ETI depends on community engagement, and visits a community to assess its energy situation and evaluate choices with feedback. Working with the Island Institute, a team of technical experts from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) arrived on the two islands to get the energy data needed and held a town hall meeting on each island about its energy future.

ETI's involvement in Maine’s island communities is to expand the program's perspective. For instance, when most people say "islands," they automatically think tropical. Various climates show various energy needs. Also, we would believe that utility partners with large amounts of staff numbers, when in reality, the staff consists of one or two full-time employees.

By partnering with the Island Institute to locate sustainable and cheaper solutions for communities in Maine, they will help us fully understand how to fulfill EERE’s mission to develop the renewable energy economy. EERE's Energy Transition Initiative (ETI) gives structure and technical resources and to aide locations in transition to a solar energy economy.

Renewable power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save. Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.

HahaSmart Blog - More Solar Tips and Guide
HahaSmart News - Stay Informed
Your Solar Incentives - See Credits and Incentives in Your Area
Check Your Home's Solar Price - See How Much You Save
Register Now - Unlock The Lowest Solar Prices in Your Area