System will provide renewable energy for the grid and annual energy savings to MaineHealth

Construction has begun on a solar farm that will deliver clean, cost-effective electricity to the Central Maine Power (CMP) grid and energy savings to MaineHealth. The 5 MW (AC)/7.58 MW (DC) solar project, located on 25 acres of private property near the town of Winthrop, is developed by Borrego and owned, engineered and built by Nexamp. MaineHealth will realize these savings through Nexamp’s proven solar program.

Once complete in early 2023, the project will offset a portion of MaineHealth’s power needs, making it a key component of MaineHealth’s portfolio of nine solar projects. The project will help MaineHealth save on energy bills annually so those resources used to pay for electricity can be reinvested to serve the health system’s not-for-profit mission. The solar project will be built on land previously slated for residential development and will reinforce MaineHealth’s commitment to sustainability by offsetting thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the project.

Thomas Saliba, a former trustee of MaineHealth, Maine Medical Center and long-time MaineHealth investment committee member, is committing the use of his family’s property for the project. The Saliba Family Foundation will donate proceeds from leasing the land to support MaineHealth, the state’s leading not-for-profit integrated health system. The Saliba Family Foundation’s 20-year-plus donation commitment to MaineHealth spans the expected life of the solar installation. Saliba worked with Borrego and MaineHealth to find the best way to help the healthcare organization meet its environmental sustainability goals.

“I was looking for ways to both preserve the land and do good, and with this project, we’re creating something for healthcare, something for the environment and something for the long-term preservation of this land,” said Saliba, a former energy economist and oil industry executive turned renewable energy champion. “I did a fair amount of research on solar developers and selected Borrego, and I could not have had a better experience working with them through the entire approval process.”

Borrego, a leading developer, EPC and O&M provider for large-scale renewable energy projects throughout the United States, and Nexamp, a veteran-founded, renewable energy solutions provider committed to clean power in Maine through long-term asset ownership and customer service, have a history of successful project partnerships.

“Borrego is proud to develop projects like this one in Winthrop that will deliver clean, homegrown energy to Maine residents and employers like MaineHealth,” said Jared Connell, VP of Development, New England, Borrego. “Global disruptions in energy markets have only reinforced the importance of local solar generation, and working with a landowner like Tom Saliba, who has a passion for renewable energy and land conservation, makes the success of this project even more rewarding.”

“The Winthrop solar farm is another example of the collaborative partnership that Nexamp and Borrego have developed over the years,” said Jenn DeLaney, VP of Channel Operations, Nexamp. “The two companies share a deep commitment to addressing the climate challenge by bringing clean energy to the communities we serve. Tom Saliba’s commitment to the environment and to Maine’s future is inspiring. We’re proud to be a long-term partner in this project that will increase renewable energy, mitigate climate change, and promote good health for residents of Maine.”

“We are excited to see progress toward the solar portfolio that we support becoming operational, and the Winthrop solar farm is especially meaningful to us because of the involvement of the Saliba family,” said Troy Trejo, Vice President of System Development of MaineHealth. “Tom’s commitment to use his land to improve the environment aligns with our vision of making our communities the healthiest in America. Given Borrego’s and Nexamp’s solar development experience, this project is on track for a successful start to operations.”