Cutting costs is one key to survival in the lobster industry these days. The unusually large harvest of softshell lobsters and the high cost of fuel have just about driven some Maine lobstermen out of business. One local lobsterman, however, has found an ingenious method of lowering at least one of his bills.
Harpswell native Jim Merryman, who owns the Potts Harbor Lobster Company, recently installed 44 photovoltaic solar panels at the Reversing Falls Lobster Wharf in Harpswell to decrease the cost of his electric bills.
“We’re the first solar-powered lobster wharf anywhere,” said Merryman. “We’ve already seen our bill decrease 50 percent and it wasn’t even a complete billing cycle.”
The solar-powered system in operation at the Reversing Falls wharf was designed and installed by the Portland-based alternative energy consultant and contractor ReVision Energy. The co-founder of ReVision, Fortunat Mueller, explained how the system works.
“The solar system installed there is what is called a grid-tied or net metered system. That means that the solar power flows in parallel to the power coming in from the utility so it’s not like a couple of specific loads are being powered by the sun and the rest is from the utility,” said Mueller. “The way it works is that when the sun is out and the array is making power, that power goes to meet whatever loads exist in the wharf or the office. If the solar is making more power than the wharf is using the excess flows back out to the grid and the meter spins backwards and generates a credit for future use. If the solar isn’t making enough power, then it carries as much of the load as it can and the balance just comes from the utility as it always has.”
ReVision employees have designed and installed more than 3,000 solar collection systems in Maine and New Hampshire during the past seven years.
“Our business continues to grow as more and more Maine home and business owners decide they have had enough of sending their hard earned money to the oil or electric company and instead choose to invest in their own system.” said Mueller. “Since 2006 we’ve grown from just about five or six people in the company to over 45 employees today. This growth comes in spite of the unstable economy and the fairly lackluster public policy support for renewables in Maine.”
Fortunat said that their purpose in introducing solar power is twofold. He said their goal is both to cut the cost of energy and also to protect the environment.
“The recent dramatic decrease in system costs has made solar power more affordable than ever and more and more Maine homes and businesses are realizing that solar is simply a better option than writing a check to the utility month after month,” said Fortunat. “Our goal at ReVision energy is to help dramatically reduce the State’s CO2 emissions and at the same time to reduce the nearly $5 billion a year that Maine sends out of state for imported energy. If we were able to keep just a quarter or half of that total here in the state instead, just imagine the benefits it would create for all Mainers, not just those who’ve made the renewable energy investment. It just makes sense.”
Merryman said he’s also convinced not only of the economic benefits of using solar power but also about protecting the environment for future generations. He estimated that, by this time next year, the solar panels installed at Reversing Falls Wharf will have prevented the emission of 20,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air around Harpswell.
“That’s about the equivalent of taking four cars off the road,” said Merryman. “It’s about making a difference.”
The total cost of purchasing and installing the solar panels on the lobster wharf was $46,500. However, Merryman was able to subsidize the cost of his system with an $11,750 grant he received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) Program this past summer. The REAP Guaranteed Loan Program enhances commercial financing of renewable energy (including bioenergy, geothermal, hydrogen, solar, wind and hydro power) and energy efficiency projects. Project developers work with local lenders, who can apply to USDA Rural Development for a loan guarantee of up to 85 percent of loan amounts.
Though he appears to have a strong bent towards business, Merryman describes himself as a diehard lobsterman.
“It’s who I am and what I’m about,” said Merryman. “I don’t know anything else.”
Merryman began lobstering with his uncle when he was eight years old. He purchased Reversing Falls Lobster Wharf three years ago through the Land for Maine’s Future Working Waterfront Access Protection Program.
According to Merryman, multiple factors have contributed to his success in the lobstering business, including the fact that he’s been in the business for many years. He said that many lobstermen just starting out today don’t have the experience needed to weather the current storms in the industry.
“Just because you have a lobstering license doesn’t mean that you will succeed,” said Merryman. “I have a passion for the lobster industry, I want it to be around for my kids.”
Wanda Curtis is a freelance writer living in Jefferson.