Marsh River Cooperative is a food cooperative that services Brooks, Maine (pop. 1,010), a rural community with limited access to new economic opportunities. To better centralize resources, Marsh River acts as a hub for over 70 local farms that are within 10 miles of the co-op.
The co-op has high energy needs due to the many coolers and freezers used in retail grocery operations. Despite efforts to successfully maximize efficiency and conserve energy use, the increasing cost of energy in Maine has created a financial burden for the co-op. Since 2020, the co-op has seen its energy costs nearly double from just under $10,000, to almost $20,000. Installing solar became a financial possibility with the help of Coastal Enterprises, Inc.’s low-cost solar loan and a grant from the USDA REAP program. The solar array has stabilized the monthly energy costs such that the cost of the loan and energy use is lower than the total utility bill. A more affordable and predictable monthly power fee helped to increase the co-op’s resiliency to uncontrollable economic factors and power system disruptions, and allow them to continue supporting their community’s robust local food system.
“Maine ranks among the worst in grid stability and has one of the highest costs of electricity in the nation. Amongst the rural small businesses we serve, especially rural small farms with high energy demands, solar can make the difference in their ability to run their businesses. Offering low-interest rate loans for solar makes the high upfront cost of solar financially feasible and builds resilience into our local food systems.” — Emily Wood, Program Developer, CEI
