Maui Solar Project Installs Solar at The Maui Farm

Maui Solar Project recently installed 20 kW of solar panels on the campus of The Maui Farm, a local nonprofit organization.

Maui Solar Project recently installed 20 kW of solar panels on the campus of The Maui Farm, a local nonprofit organization.

The Maui Farm, founded in 1985, provides farm-based, family-centered residential and educational programs that teach essential life skills for self-sufficient living.

The addition of the PV to four homes and The Maui Farm’s administrative office will save the organization an estimated $200,000 over the next 20 years.

“The Maui Farm continues efforts to streamline our operating expenses to ensure the most efficient use of public and private resources in our work with homeless families and the community,” said Executive Director Paula Ambre. “We are most grateful to Maui Solar Project for making our most recent initiative, the installation of photovoltaic energy systems, an affordable reality for our nonprofit organization.”

To arrange financing, often the biggest challenge for nonprofits wanting to transition to solar, The Maui Farm worked with MSP to do an in-house power purchase agreement benefitting both organizations.

Maui Solar Project recently installed 20 kW of solar panels on the campus of The Maui Farm, a local nonprofit organization.

“The Maui Farm promotes sustainable agricultural practices, environmental stewardship and healthy living,” said MSP Vice President of Operations Emily Erickson, who sits on the Board of directors for The Maui Farm. “With the addition of photovoltaic energy on their campus, The Maui Farm can teach children, families and community members about PV and depending less on fossil fuels. PV provides an educational tool as well as a great savings for the agency’s budget.”

MSP installed 100 Hyundai 280 watt panels with Enphase Micro-Inverters on Uni-Rac Racking.

Kahului-based Maui Solar Project is a locally owned and operated company founded in 2008 by Edmond Alberton and Josh Porter. MSP is committed to supporting the local community and advocating for cleaner energy on our islands. On O‘ahu, MSP’s sister company, HI Solar Battery, focuses on off-grid and self-supply systems.

MSP is a member of the GEMS Financing Program. a partnership between the Hawai‘i State Energy Office and the Hawai‘i Green Infrastructure Authority that makes clean energy improvements more affordable and accessible to Hawaii consumers. Through the program, MSP offers commercial and nonprofit loans as well as residential loans.

For more about The Maui Farm, visit www.themauifarm.org.

For more about Maui Solar Project visit www.mauisolarproject.org.