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Category: Solar Stories

  • Community Spotlight: ReTreeUS and Maryland Community Solar partnering for a sustainable future

    Community Spotlight: ReTreeUS and Maryland Community Solar partnering for a sustainable future

    Supporting Maryland’s sustainable future is at the core of what we do. That’s why we partnered with ReTreeUS in honor of Earth Day to plant a fruit orchard at Georgetown Central School.

    The school orchard represents many of the things that are important to our mission and our business – education, community, the environment and supporting other like-minded organizations.

    ReTreeUS worked with students and faculty through scattered showers to plant the orchard.

    The students really dug in and literally broke new ground to plant this orchard. Their charisma was contagious and brought hope for a more sustainable future. A little rain didn’t stop them, a little hard work didn’t slow them down, and one day, when future generations eat fruit from the orchard, they will know their hard work paid off!

    Like any great project, this one has depth and will unfold over time, delivering lasting benefits to the students and community. The students will learn about the trees in their orchard, the care they require, and methods for sustainable fruit tree harvesting. The school cafeteria and the community will benefit from the “fruits of their labor.”

    This orchard was one of seven educational orchards ReTreeUS has planned for the season, and they have already completed another seven previously in the spring, bringing the total number to 14 orchards this year! They will be delivering seedlings around the State and their produce will be given to school cafeterias. Coast of Maryland soil provided materials for the planting as well. They believe, as stated on their website, a healthy planet needs healthy soil.

    As a green company dedicated to a sustainable future for the environment and Maryland’s communities, it’s wonderful to be part of something like the Georgetown Central School orchard. Those trees can outlive us and create fruit and clean air for generations to come – a lasting change for the better.

    ReTreeUS is a local Maryland non-profit, check them out below:

  • Community Solar Sparks Local Attention

    Community Solar Sparks Local Attention

    The Portland Press Herald recently published an article about the abundance of community solar options for Maryland residents. While it’s great Maryland businesses and consumers have so many options, the number of choices, different people presenting them, and the newness of community solar programs can lead to confusion.

    We are happy to see clean energy catching some attention, and trusted sources taking the time to discuss what it means for our community, consumers, and local businesses. The challenge they identified in their article is at the core of what we do. Our team is focused on education first – helping people understand how community solar works and then helping them find the right program for them. We work hard to ensure customers understand the benefits they are getting and commitments they are making to the environment and the solar farms.

    Portland Press Herald explains that “…a community solar company applies a credit to the kilowatt-hour charges on your monthly utility bill. The credit reduces the payment you owe to your electricity provider…” It can seem daunting at first, making a change to your monthly routine when it comes to billing, but to many of our clients, the savings and opportunity to use clean energy are worth the brief time it takes to learn about the programs and sign-up!

    We have helped more than 200 Maryland Businesses and over 120 sign up for a local community solar program to power their business or home with renewable energy and to save money on their electric bills. As the Portland Press Herald explains, “Discounts in Maryland range from 10-15 percent, based on market competition and proprietary financial calculations. Contract lengths vary, from month-to-month to 20 years. Cancellation terms vary, too; many have no fee but require a specific time notice, such as 90 days.” At Maryland Community Solar, we help customers understand their options and focus on the program that best fits their priorities.

    How does the enrollment process work? As the Portland Press Herald explains, consumers “…simply agree to receive a kilowatt-hour credit on their monthly electric bills for a share of the power being generated, often the output that matches the annual demand of their homes. As a reward, they get a discount on the cost of their existing supply.” Maryland.gov has created a useful information page on community solar, explaining what the benefits are and what it is, so consumers can do their own research as well. 

    Portland Press Herald explains why the enrollment process works the way it does, “Developers and marketers need to sign up customers months before projects are turned on. This gives project investors assurance that there’s a big enough customer base to support the output. That’s why Marylandrs are getting all these solicitations now, even though some projects offering subscriptions might not go live for a year or so.” The solar farms need to be able to envision what kind of power each farm will need to generate when it comes time, and to do this, they need an understanding of the usage their consumers have beforehand.

    We invite interested Maryland residents and businesses to reach out to us, request information or schedule a call or meeting with an Energy Specialist, we hope to help Maryland consumers find understanding and comfort in knowing they have enrolled in a program that best suits them. 

    Read the Article from the Portland Press Herald here.

    Sources Cited:

    Tux Turkel, “For community solar shoppers, a marketplace of choice and confusion.” Portland Press Herald. May 23, 2021

  • Feature Friday: Little Harbor Window

    Feature Friday: Little Harbor Window

    Little Harbor Window has spent the last 38 years manufacturing windows and doors from sustainably harvested Mahogany for high-end residential and institutional projects. That kind of longevity comes with a sense of place and a role in the larger community that’s reflected in the way they run their business.

    Their quality craftsmanship and service are evident in their business success, but their commitment to their community speaks to something deeper than profit margin. James Eaton, the company’s founder, shared this with us. “We send scrap wood to two different outfits that build wooden toys for underprivileged children. One of the groups employs disabled people to help build the toys. The other group is a retirement community with a woodshop that works through a local church group. We also leave containers of scrap outside our facility for local people to use for their own projects.”

     Their 30,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility is the focus of their sustainable business practices. The facility’s large electricity usage means they can make a positive impact on the environment with Community Solar. They are also replacing all of their outdated lightings with LED fixtures. They work with the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Maryland MEP) to evaluate their processes on a regular basis to continually make small improvements- they refer to it as LEAN manufacturing practices which boils down to eliminating waste in any/all areas. They also work with Maryland Safety Works to ensure that the work environment is up to OSHA standards and safe for all of their employees.

    We are grateful to work with such a great company, and appreciate the opportunity to help them move farther on their path to sustainability! Check out more about Little Harbor Window below:

    +1 (800) 597 6344
    +1 (207) 698 1332

    PO Box 1188 Berwick, ME 03901

    11 Little Harbor Rd. Berwick, ME 03901

    Follow Little Harbor Window Co. on Facebook and Instagram!

    Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/LittleHarborWindow/

    Instagram:

    http://www.instagram.com/littleharborwindow

    https://www.littleharborwindow.com

    Interested in learning more about community solar for your home or business?

    Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter!

  • Feature Friday: Furbush-Roberts Printing

    Feature Friday: Furbush-Roberts Printing

    Furbush-Roberts Printing, established in 1938

    Welcome to the first Maryland Community Solar Feature Friday, we are thrilled to introduce you to Furbush-Roberts Printing! Furbush-Roberts Printing is a family-owned commercial printer in Bangor that is leading the way in sustainable business practices and has recently joined Maryland Community Solar in our mission to make Maryland a leader in renewable energy by enrolling in a local community solar program.

    They have been in operation since 1938, and have four generations standing behind the business. Companies with that kind of longevity often see the value in sustainability for future generations. Their team members pride themselves on personalized customer service and specialized care for all customers!

    Furbush-Roberts Printing sees community solar as a win-win for their business, but that’s not all. They also have a recycling program and print with soy-based inks! “We are dedicated to environmental improvements that promote a sustainable future that lead to social and economic improvements in our community,” said Caitlin Sullivan when we asked about their sustainability initiatives. We see the many benefits of Maryland Community Solar, and we love to hear why others have chosen to join us, and when we asked Caitlin Roberts-Sullivan, she said…

    “We loved how we could use green energy and save our business money. It’s a win-win!”

    Caitlin Roberts-Sullivan

    We are proud to have Furbush-Roberts Printing as part of our community of like-minded businesses that recognize sustainable business practices can be profitable and contribute to a prosperous future for all Marylandrs. Please visit their company website and Facebook page to support a family-owned Maryland business adapting to the times and keeping the world around them in mind as they go!

    About Maryland Community Solar: We are a local Maryland organization educating Maryland businesses and consumers about local Maryland community solar programs. Businesses and consumers that enroll in a community solar program with us will save 10-15% on their utility bill, use 100% clean energy, and help Maryland reach it’s renewable energy goals.

    Furbush-Roberts Printing

    207-945-9409 

    435 Odlin Road, Bangor, Maryland  04401

    www.furbushroberts.com

    www.facebook.com/FurbushRoberts

    Take a look at their offerings!

    Banners

    Books

    Booklets

    Brochures

    Business Cards

    Calendars

    Catalogs

    Direct Mailing

    Envelopes

    Food Packaging

    Forms

    Mailing

    Kitting

    Flyers

    Greeting Cards

    Holiday cards by Birchcraft

    Invitations

    Labels

    Letterheads

    Manuals

    Menus

    Newsletters

    Notepads

    Packaging

    Pocket Folders

    Postcards

    Posters

    Promotional items

    Rack cards

    Reports

    Stickers

    Wedding Invitations by Carlson Craft

    Other Services:

    Design & Prepress

    Digital Printing

    Offset Printing

    Variable Data

    Bindery & Finishing

    Fulfillment

    From Left to right, Caitlin Roberts-Sullivan and Father, Tom Roberts stand together.

    A big thank you to Furbush-Roberts Printing for being our first Feature Friday Business and for joining Maryland Community Solar and choosing 100% clean renewable energy!

    Want to power your business with clean energy and lower your utility bill by 10-15%?

  • Feature Friday’s with Maryland Community Solar!

    Feature Friday’s with Maryland Community Solar!

    We’re on a mission to make Maryland a leader in sustainability and clean energy and we can’t do it alone. Your participation in community solar for your business and other sustainable business practices are essential to economic growth and an environmentally responsible future for all Marylandrs. That’s why we’re launching Feature Fridays. We’re excited about partnering with you and we want to tell everyone about your business. If you’re interested in us sharing your sustainability stories, just let us know!

  • Great Community Solar Resource for Marylandrs

    Great Community Solar Resource for Marylandrs

    The Maryland Office of the Public Advocate has a great page of resources about community solar that include a video, common questions and a one-page handout. If you are considering community solar for your home or business, it’s worth spending some time on this page.

    https://www.maine.gov/meopa/electricity/community_solar

    Video link: https://vimeo.com/489543711