*New Maine community solar sites are now producing nearly 25 megawatts of clean energy and providing savings for Mainers.*

Five Maine community solar sites managed by Ampion Renewable Energy reached commercial operation and started producing clean energy in November. These community solar sites, in both Versant Power and Central Maine Power utility territories, add nearly 25 megawatts (MW) of clean power to the grid and will produce over 28 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy annually. The solar projects, located in Franklin, Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington Counties, provide local subscribers with up to 15% savings on electricity costs while enabling them to support the generation of new, clean energy for the state of Maine.

“Community solar is an invaluable state program that provides Mainers with many benefits. It bolsters the local economy, improves grid resilience, and is available to all types of electricity consumers,” said Nate Owen, CEO & Founder of Ampion. Owen spent much of his childhood in Orrington and attended John Babst Memorial High School in Bangor and Bowdoin College in Brunswick. He founded Ampion in Bar Harbor in 2014. “As a company with roots in Maine, we are thrilled to bring clean energy and savings to Maine electricity consumers.”

Ampion successfully enrolled 1,700 residential and 70 commercial customers onto these community solar sites. Ampion will also manage the ongoing billing and customer care for these customers for the full 20-year lifecycle of the projects. Currently, Ampion manages subscriptions for 48 community solar projects in Maine, amounting to over 215 MW (DC). About 10% of Ampion’s employees reside in Maine, and the company continues to hire more employees in the state to support its growing footprint. 

Ampion also works with Maine community organizations like [The Highlands](https://www.highlandsrc.com/), a senior living center in Topsham, Maine, to connect residents to electricity savings.

"The Highlands is pleased to be taking part in community solar with Ampion to support clean energy in Maine," said Troy Chapman, Operations Director at The Highlands. “We feel good about supporting local jobs and helping to make more clean energy available to the grid, all while helping our community members save money on electricity.”

Read more in [Solar Power World](https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2024/12/ampion-wraps-up-25-mw-maine-community-solar-portfolio/), [Alt Energy Mag](https://www.altenergymag.com/news/2024/12/19/ampion-brings-clean-energy-savings-to-mainers-with-5-new-community-solar-sites/44017/), and [North American Clean Energy](https://www.nacleanenergy.com/solar/ampion-brings-clean-energy-savings-to-mainers-with-5-new-community-solar-sites). 


Ampion Brings Clean Energy, Savings to Mainers with 5 New Community Solar Sites

*Ampion’s community solar programs are now active in three additional states: Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia.* 

Since the beginning of 2024, Ampion has added nearly 400 MW of renewable energy generation and is now approaching 1.5 GW under management. To support the diverse needs of its growing list of solar developer clients, Ampion has also launched white labeling capabilities, allowing developers to leverage Ampion’s subscriber acquisition and revenue management services under their own name and branding. 

Community solar installations are expected to exceed [14 gigawatts (GW) in the next five years](https://renewablesnow.com/news/us-to-add-73-gw-dc-of-community-solar-by-2029-wood-mackenzie-865988/). Building on this momentum, [Ampion Renewable Energy](https://ampion.net) is expanding its programs to Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia, furthering affordable clean energy access and increasing its capacity under management to approximately 1.5 GW. Ampion is partnering with new developer and asset owner clients, including [ENGIE North America](https://www.engie.com/en), [Navisun](https://navisunllc.com/), and [Dimension Energy](https://www.dimension-energy.com/), in markets across the county. 

“Dimension’s community solar projects can only achieve our desired impact when local customers benefit directly from the affordable solar energy we’re producing,” said Bryan Bentrott, VP of Origination at Dimension. “That’s where Ampion comes in. We’ve been impressed with the early results of Ampion’s subscription campaigns in Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia and look forward to continuing our work together to make clean energy work for everyone.”

Ampion will acquire a mix of unique subscribers to suit the needs of each solar farm. Subscriber categories include low-to-moderate-income (LMI) households, mass market, small general service (SGS) rate classes, small commercial, and enterprise businesses. 
“ENGIE is delighted to collaborate with Ampion to support increased access to renewable energy,” said Kristen Fornes, VP of Distributed Solar for ENGIE North America. “By working with Ampion, ENGIE enables residents and businesses to benefit from community solar and savings from our sites.”

In addition to expanding into new U.S. markets, Ampion has launched its new [White Label Platform](https://ampion.net/energy-developers/white-label) for developers and asset owners who wish to handle their own subscriber acquisition, but may not have access to a sophisticated platform that can effectively manage and support their business. The platform allows Ampion to handle subscriber acquisition and revenue management under the client’s name and branding. This is the latest in Ampion’s growing service offerings to meet the evolving needs of the community solar market for developers, asset owners, and subscribers. 

Earlier this year, Ampion achieved more than [1 GW of community solar under management](https://ampion.net/about/blog/ampion-surpasses-1-gigawatt-of-community-solar-under-management?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=release&utm_campaign=supp&utm_content=expansion) and contributed to the growth of corporate community solar adoption, furthering Ampion’s commitment to expanding renewable energy for all.

“We are pleased to see more states enacting community solar legislation to encourage renewable energy adoption, and our expansion is indicative of this growing market in the U.S.," said Nate Owen, CEO and Founder of Ampion. “Community solar is an equalizer for energy access, and it can power communities, easing utility bill burdens and helping the planet. As we continue to grow, it is paramount that we maintain the quality of service our customers expect from us. We continually invest in our technology and personnel to do just that.”

Ampion Brings Affordable Clean Energy to Three New States

It’s finally Fall — time for cooler days, pumpkin-flavored coffees, and new beginnings. As the lazy days of summer come to an end and kids go back to school, many of us take Fall as an opportunity to start fresh. It’s the perfect time to clean out your garage, assess your finances, and get back on a routine to end the year on a strong note. For some of us, this involves making conscious changes in our lives to reduce our spending, and maybe our environmental footprint, too. Read on for some Fall-themed sustainability tips that are both green and budget-friendly.

# Assess Your Home’s Energy-Efficiency # 
![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1727701956-home-energy-audit.png)

Colder temperatures are just around the corner. Fall is the perfect time to identify deficiencies in your home that will cost you real money. Does one room in your home feel particularly drafty? Consider sealing those windows or purchasing a draft stopper. Do you have the heat or air conditioning running all day in a room that is barely occupied? Look into getting a smart thermostat for your home. The average Energy Smart thermostat can [save you up to 8% in energy costs](https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/thermostats/are-smart-thermostats-worth-it-a7822875275/) per year. 

You can also get a home energy audit for an expert opinion on how to make your home more energy efficient. Many states offer free home energy audits, including Massachusetts and New York. You can also take advantage of federal government programs such as the [Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/professional-home-energy-assessments). This program provides a tax credit worth 30% of the cost of a home energy audit. Without state or federal offers and incentives, home energy audits tend to [cost between $200 to $700](https://www.saveonenergy.com/resources/home-energy-audit/), but they often save people much more than that once they make the recommended adjustments. 
 

# Eat Local, Seasonal Produce #
![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1727701956-eat-seasonal-produce.png)

Purchasing in-season fruits and vegetables is not just a tastier decision than buying transported, out-of-season produce. It’s also a decision that supports local farmers and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Think about the energy required for the transportation and refrigeration of out-of-season produce. That’s a lot of energy! 

Farmers who focus on growing seasonal crops that are naturally suited to the local climate and soil type don't rely as heavily on fertilizers and pesticides, which is overall better for the environment. Buying local, in-season produce supports small farms. Smaller farms tend to practice more sustainable, regenerative farming practices  that encourage biodiversity and maintain the balance of nutrients in the soil. 

There are lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables to choose from in the Fall— pumpkins, apples, beets, and sweet potatoes are in-season. Find a local farm stand or farmer’s market to support local farmers and sustainable farming practices. Oftentimes, in-season, [local produce is less expensive](https://diet.mayoclinic.org/us/blog/2022/picked-at-their-peak-the-benefits-of-buying-seasonal-produce/) than buying transported produce at the grocery store, so you can save money while eating better!

# Sign up for Community Solar — or Refer a Friend! #
![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1727701956-fall-community-solar.png)

Community Solar is the easiest, most cost-effective way to support local, clean energy sources. When you join a Community Solar farm, you’ll save between 5 and 20% on electricity costs annually, depending on your state. There’s no cost to join, no installations, and you don’t have to be a homeowner. [Enroll here to get started](https://enroll.ampion.net)! 

If you’re already a Community Solar subscriber, then you know that Community Solar is a great way to help the environment while saving money. But did you know that you can earn a $100 Visa gift card for referring a friend to Community Solar with Ampion? [Log into your Ampion portal](https://portal.ampion.net/users/sign_in) today to make a referral. When the person you refer completes their enrollment, you will each be eligible to receive a $100 Visa gift card. 


# Start Composting at Home #
![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1727701956-composting.png)

Did you know that as much as [24% of landfill waste](https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/lettuce-not-waste-new-epa-research-highlights-food-waste-contributions-climate) is categorized as “municipal solid food waste”? This is an issue because food waste is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. If you’ve ever considered composting at home, but haven’t gotten around to implementing it in your household, Fall is the perfect time to start! Raked leaves, apple peels, old jack-o-lanterns, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and more can all easily be composted. Some cities and towns have their own compost collection sites or even pickup service. Worried about the smell of old food? Try putting your compost in your garage, outside with a lid, or in the freezer to reduce unwanted odors. Composting at home helps us to reduce waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create nutrient-rich compost for farms and gardens.

Incorporating sustainability into our Fall routines is beneficial to the planet and our budgets. Let’s usher in the Fall season sustainably, and with some extra money in our pockets. Happy Fall!

4 Fall Sustainability Tips that Are Budget-Friendly

*Shepherds Acres Solar Farm in South Paris, Maine*

**The long-term partnership begins with the construction of five distributed generation projects for commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout the Northeast and Midwest.**
***

[Navisun](https://www.navisunllc.com/), an independent power producer with operations across the United States, and [Ampion](https://ampion.net), a community solar subscription management company, are pleased to announce a long-term, strategic partnership that will connect commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout the Northeast and Midwest with affordable, reliable solar energy.

Navisun will design, construct, own, and operate more than 21 MWdc of solar assets across four states, with plans to add additional capacity to this partnership in the near future. Ampion will lead the subscriber acquisition, billing, customer care, and the long-term subscription management for these five distributed generation community solar projects. Once completed and subscribed, the projects will serve households and businesses in Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Illinois, including economically disadvantaged customers. The first development, in Maine, is expected to begin operating in November.

In their ongoing collaboration, Ampion and Navisun are committed to addressing the industry’s growing need for high-quality customer relationships that ensure both the long-term viability of renewable energy assets and more affordable energy bills for Americans. By pairing Navisun’s expertise in solar energy generation with Ampion’s sophisticated subscription management services, the two partners aim to expand solar access in markets throughout the country and build lasting relationships with a range of solar energy customers that cement the industry’s long-term success.

“As the renewable energy industry grows, it also needs to deliver clean energy in a long-term, responsible and sustainable manner,” said Jason Spreyer, CEO of Navisun. “By focusing on the long-term viability of our assets, Navisun ensures the projects we build today will continue to provide sustainable energy for decades to come. We’re glad to share that we are partnering with Ampion, whose shared commitment to long-term sustainability benefits not only our projects but the wider solar industry.”

“Ampion is proud to partner with Navisun to extend the cost-saving benefits of community solar to more utility customers, especially to low-to-moderate income customers who gain the most from these savings,” said Nate Owen, CEO & Founder of Ampion. “In collaborating on these initial projects, we are fulfilling our shared belief that ready access to project performance data and close attention to the subscriber experience leads to happier customers and better site economics. Together, we're applying long-term, creative approaches to distributed generation markets, beyond the immediate subscriber acquisition phase. This evolving industry requires more sophisticated strategies to expand, and we're glad we have a partner that shares our commitment to continuing this growth.”

Navisun and Ampion Partner to Deliver Community Solar Savings to Customers and Expand to New Markets Across the U.S.

* Over 130 Wendy’s Company and franchise locations are enrolled in community solar and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) with Ampion.
* The partnership brings more than 27 million kWh of renewable energy to local grids in New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts.
* Through Ampion+, Wendy’s will access Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that are [Green-e® Energy](https://www.green-e.org/programs/energy) certified to meet the most stringent environmental and consumer protection standards in North America.

[Ampion Renewable Energy](https://ampion.net/) is partnering with [The Wendy’s Company](https://www.wendys.com/) (Nasdaq: WEN) to help Wendy’s® restaurants source renewable energy. Nearly 100 company-operated restaurants and nearly 40 franchise restaurants in New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts are now enrolled in [Ampion+](https://ampion.net/about/blog/ampion-plus-for-enterprises-bundles-community-solar-recs), a product that helps organizations reduce energy costs and secure Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that substantiate the use of renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

The enrolled restaurants will source between 30% and 100% of their energy from solar without the need to install solar panels onsite. Wendy’s plans to increase the number of restaurants enrolled in community solar through Ampion as additional solar generation capacity comes online and more franchise restaurants enroll in the program. Participation in such community solar projects helps generate and supply renewable electricity to local utility grids, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

“We are excited about the opportunity this partnership provides our Company and franchise restaurant operators by making it easier and more accessible to source clean energy while ultimately realizing cost savings,” said Steven Derwoed, Vice President, Global Design & Construction at Wendy’s. “We are advancing progress toward our emissions reduction goals through community solar participation and RECs. It’s a win-win for the Company and our franchisees.”

Last year, Wendy’s set near-term [science-based targets](https://www.irwendys.com/news/news-details/2023/The-Wendys-Company-Strengthens-Commitment-to-Climate-Action-Targeting-Ambitious-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-Cuts/default.aspx) to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 47%, and Scope 3 emissions from franchisees by 47% per restaurant by 2030, both from a 2019 baseline. Sourcing renewable energy is a key focus area for Wendy’s in achieving these emissions reduction goals.

Through Ampion, Wendy’s locations have enrolled approximately 27.5 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in community solar. This is equivalent to CO2 emissions from the electricity used by over 2,200 homes for one year. Each kilowatt hour will be accounted for, tracked, and assigned ownership to a specific restaurant location via RECs through the Ampion+ product.

![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1720457289-wendy-s-blog-01.png)

"As the need for reducing carbon emissions grows, community solar combined with RECs provides a solution for environmental sustainability in the corporate sector that is both achievable and affordable, while enabling companies to quantify and disclose their progress in a standardized manner," said Nate Owen, CEO and Founder of Ampion. “We’re seeing more large companies actively seeking sustainable solutions through community solar. This partnership with Wendy’s demonstrates that Ampion is able to support these organizations in reducing emissions and putting more renewable energy on the grid for local communities.”

A REC represents the environmental benefits associated with one megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable energy matched with electricity usage. Corporations buy RECs to claim responsibility for the clean energy generated and the corresponding environmental benefits in their ESG reports. However, purchasing and budgeting for RECs can pose challenges for most companies.

![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1720457327-wendy-s-blog-02.png)


“Accounting and organizational constraints often prohibit enterprises from buying RECs needed to attain their ESG goals,” said Vihann Kong, Senior Executive Director at Ampion. “Our innovative Ampion+ product addresses these roadblocks by combining community solar and RECs in one transaction. We’re proud to help The Wendy’s Company and franchisees lower their carbon emissions while saving on their bottom line.”

This partnership comes as community solar is continuing to trend upward. A [recent report from Wood Mackenzie](https://www.woodmac.com/press-releases/2024-press-releases/cumulative-us-community-solar-installed-capacity-expected-to-break-14-gwdc-by-2028/), the leading global provider of data and analytics solutions for the renewables, energy and natural resources sectors, estimates that cumulative community solar installations could more than double in the next five years. Earlier this year, [Ampion surpassed 1 GW of community solar](https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/community-solar/ampion-now-has-1-gw-of-community-solar-under-management/) generation under management.

Ampion Partners with The Wendy’s Company and its Franchisees

Here at Ampion, our commitment to the environment goes beyond the work we do in renewable energy. Of course we want to make renewable energy accessible to all, and we also value making outdoor spaces safe and accessible to all. For Ampion’s 2024 volunteer outing, a group of Ampion employees gave back to the community by cleaning up a section of the Boston Harborwalk in East Boston. 

The Boston Harborwalk is a stretch of 43 miles of publicly-accessible walking paths and trails along Boston’s waterfront, covering neighborhoods in East Boston, Charlestown, and Dorchester. The Ampion crew got to work and picked up a whopping 166.2 pounds of trash along the East Boston coastline. The group was eager to give back to the community and create a cleaner, safer environment for people, animals, and marine life to thrive. 

![Boston Harborwalk](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1717072685-img_1816-edited.png)

The team volunteered with Boston Harbor Now, an organization dedicated to making Boston Harbor, its waterfront and islands accessible and inclusive. [Boston Harbor Now](https://www.bostonharbornow.org/) works with nonprofits, harbor agencies, and other organizations to ensure that these places are properly adapted to the risks of climate change. Boston Harbor Now partners with the [Friends of the Boston Harborwalk](https://www.bostonharbornow.org/get-involved/fohw/), a group of volunteers who steward the waterfront spaces and identify the sites most in need of volunteer service projects.

# Love (Cleaning Up) That Dirty Water!
Ampion’s roots are in Boston. We love our strong, resilient city and want to make sure it remains resilient in the face of climate change and other forms of environmental destruction like pollution. A huge part of climate resiliency is preventing toxic chemicals from litter and other debris from entering our waterways, soil, or food sources. One of the biggest risks posed by litter? Marine life often confuses plastics, styrofoam, and other materials for food. This not only poses a risk to their health, but also to people, as many of us consume seafood caught off of the Boston coastline.  

The Ampion team was shocked at the amount of litter on the marshland and beachfront in East Boston. Motivated, the team suited up in neon vests, gloves, trash pickers, and trash bags. Since the tide was coming in quickly, the Ampion group was instructed to start by picking up trash close to the shoreline to avoid it from being swept out to sea with the rising tide. The team got to work picking up small pieces of plastic, styrofoam, textiles, and other trash. Gradually, the group moved backward to the marsh. The most interesting pieces of trash the crew found? A destroyed foam mattress pad, a life vest, and full bottled beverages. 

That Ampion team left that day feeling accomplished for getting all that trash out of East Boston's marshland and beach. It wasn't just about picking up litter or outcompeting each other in finding the most garbage. More than anything, this experience was an impactful reminder of why it matters to care for our environment. Boston is a city that many of us at Ampion proudly call home. We’re going to continue playing our part in keeping it beautiful and safe for everyone. 

News & Updates

Ampion Brings Clean Energy, Savings to Mainers with 5 New Community Solar Sites