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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 J U N E 2 6 , 2 0 1 7 numbers: In Massachusetts, there are 10,000 solar industry workers com- pared to 300 in Maine. From a business-planning standpoint, ReVision is sorting out the problem in part by expanding outside of Maine. e company currently has 165 employees at two locations in Maine and two in New Hampshire, and recently signed a lease in North Andover, Mass. " e reason we signed a lease there is because Gov. Deval Patrick, during his eight years in Massachusetts, launched the most ambitious solar policy in New England. He really launched a rocket ship of an industry in Massachusetts," Coupe says. "So for that reason, instead of growing more locations in Maine, we decided to open an additional location in Massachusetts, where they have a sta- ble, long-term policy environment and we can plan to run a viable business." Legislators have been consider- ing two bills that would roll back the PUC rollback. LD 1373, "An Act to Expand and Protect Access to Solar Power in Maine," would establish net metering in statute, as well as reestab- lish Maine's lapsed Solar Rebate Fund for low-income and moderate-income homeowners, towns, small businesses and other institutions. e bill was carried over until next year. e bill in committee as of this writ- ing, LD1504, "An Act Regarding Solar Power for Farms and Businesses," would pause the PUC rule and directs the PUC to perform additional analyses. For now, providers are working hard to keep up with demand. "My warehouse is full of solar pan- els and we've got all kinds of work scheduled," says Piper. "People want their energy independence." Piper is seeing probably 20% more business this year than last year due to the ruling, with more potential com- ing down the pike. "Municipalities are jumping on this," Piper says. " ey want to get in before the window of opportunity ends." at means, by September, Sundog could be facing a problem. "People want their systems before the end of the year, and we're going to be booked." L S , M a i n e b i z s t a f f writer, can be reached at @ . a n d @ M R E I You know us for the infrastructure we build throughout northern New England. Bridges, marine terminals, wind projects, etc. You may not know we build electrical infrastructure, too. Transmission lines, substations, collector systems. www.reed-reed.com W O O L W I C H , M A I N E Let us show you more. Our recent acquisition of PLC Construction in New Hampshire has significantly increased our skills and resources. F O C U S P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Fortunat Mueller, left, and Phil Coupe, co- founders of ReVision Energy. The solar fi rm is based in Portland, but has expanded into Massachusetts, 'which really launched a rocket ship of an industry.'

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