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V O L . X X I V N O. X I I I J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 16 THERE IS A DIFFERENCE THERE IS Because Construction Management Design/Build General Contracting Engineering Sheridan Construction www.sheridancorp.com Fairfield Portland 207-453-9311 207-774-6138 W ith high fuel costs and aging electrical infrastructure, many of Maine's 15 year-round islands are leveraging new technologies to ensure energy sustainable futures. Islesboro, which received an Island Energy Innovation Award this year from Rockland's Island Institute, is a prime example. Initiatives since 2012 include instal- lation of a large photovoltaic array, off setting over half of municipal electrical energy usage; LED lighting retrofi ts at Islesboro Central School and a solar project to power the school greenhouse; creation of an energy team by the select board; and weatherization and inte- rior storm window inserts in dozens of homes. e team plans energy audits to drive future planning, including expan- sion of municipal solar and replacing street lighting with LEDs, says Toby Martin, chair of the Islesboro Energy Committee. Collaboration within and between island communities is key, says Martin. Islesboro has a variety of energy-related groups that tackle effi ciencies at the individual, community and school levels and network with state, national and international energy proponents and providers. "You pick up ideas as you go along and, out of that, you work out some- thing that works for your island," he says. "No island answers their energy questions the same way. You have Isle au Haut, with a plan to go independent with their own solar array. ey've real- ized the cable that connects them with the mainland is going to fail. Other islands have generators of various kinds. Everyone does it diff erently and they're all working toward the same goal — cut costs, be as self-suffi cient as possible, lower emissions." Other islands are taking steps toward energy independence: ¡ Monhegan Plantation Power District replaced its aging generator with four high-effi ciency 65-kilowatt diesel microturbines; and a 12.65-kilowatt solar array. Two turbines are fi tted with heat recovery modules to pro- vide heat and dehumidifi cation to other buildings. Most homes were weatherized. ¡ e high cost of submarine cable replacement prompted the Isle au Haut Electric Power Co. to pur- chase 204 kW of solar modules, with planned use of hot water heat pumps for space heating. [See related story.] ¡ Since 2009, the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative has operated three 1.5 megawatt wind turbines, covering all electrical use. ¡ e Swan's Island Electric Cooperative merger with Emera in 2017 halved electric bills. TOP TO BOTTOM: Islesboro Central School's solar array powers the school greenhouse. / Islesboro residents and visitors from the Island Institute's Island Energy Conference stand in front of the solar array at Islesboro Central School. / The solar array on top of the Islesboro Town Offi ce offsets over half of municipal electrical energy usage. Islands aim for energy independence B Y L A U R I E S C H R E I B E R F O C U S P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y I S L A N D I N S T I T U T E