GREENWOOD — The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded the Mt. Abram ski area a $235,000 grant to go toward installing a solar energy system.

The money was awarded as part of the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program, which, according to its website, “provides assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of projects, including renewable energy systems, energy-efficiency improvements and renewable energy developments.”

Matt Hancock, owner of Mt. Abram, said the solar energy project had “been on his radar for about two years” and the only thing missing was “the shot in the arm that comes in the form of grant money.”

“Two years ago, we hired a group out of the Midwest to write a grant for us,” Hancock said. “The first time we submitted the grant application, the USDA scored us very well at the state level. Unfortunately, the state office didn’t have enough money in its allocations, so we came up a little short that year against the national competition.

“When they announced that they would be taking new applications, we were able to resubmit, and this time, we were able to get the grant,” Hancock said. “When you’ve been working on a project like this for two years, there’s a lot of enthusiasm and satisfaction when the project finally starts to move forward.”

Hancock added that part of the stipulations of the grant is that it would fund up to 25 percent of the total project cost.

“Right now, it looks like the price tag on the entire project is about $940,000,” Hancock said. “That makes the grant money we received a significant contribution toward getting the project done. Without the grant, it would be hard to conventionally fund the solar energy system.”

The solar energy system is expected to generate 422 kilowatt-hours per year and will include 869 photovoltaic panels.

According to Hancock, he has already received building permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the town of Greenwood.

“There’s still some things that need to be done, but a lot of the work has already been completed,” Hancock said.

He said his goal is to get “the shovel in the ground” by mid-October.

“I have no idea if it will happen, but that’s my hope,” Hancock said. “If, for whatever reason, we don’t hit that timeline, we’ll have to postpone for at least four months. Once we get into ski season, it’ll be hard to find the room to do the work that needs to be done.”

The solar energy system will act “as a credit toward our electricity account,” Hancock said.

“Maine is, by rule, a net-metering state, so as long as we meet certain production criteria, we’ll receive credit for some of the electricity we generate,” Hancock explained. “The system won’t go toward powering any specific thing at the resort.”

mdaigle@sunjournal.com