by Jill McLaughlin

At a time when energy markets remain volatile, the Westbrook Public School Department is taking a proactive approach by investing in on-site solar energy as a predictable, controllable solution that stabilizes costs and protects taxpayer dollars.

Developed in partnership with ReVision Energy, the district is making significant progress on a four-project solar initiative designed to strengthen economic stewardship, reduce long-term energy costs, and build financial resilience across the district.

Net Energy Billing credits from these combined systems will save Westbrook taxpayers approximately $266,000 in year one. 

“We are all on the ‘let’s save money’ team. Solar is something we can control. While we can’t dictate future energy prices, we can take action today to reduce what we’ll pay tomorrow.”— Dr. Peter Lancia, Superintendent

A Smart Response to Uncertain Energy Prices

The district’s solar rollout spans four rooftop projects:

• Congin School (completed March 2026): producing ~201,535 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually
• Saccarappa Elementary School (completed May 2026): producing ~305,345 kWh annually
• Westbrook Middle School (under construction, completing soon)
• Westbrook High School & Regional Vocational School (construction beginning June 2026)

Together, these systems make up:

• 1.1+ megawatts of installed solar capacity
• Over 1.3 million kWh of clean electricity annually
• Approximately $266,000 in year-one savings through Net Energy Billing credits

More than Savings – An Investment in Students

While the financial case is compelling, the impact goes much deeper. By reducing long-term energy costs, Westbrook can redirect funding into classrooms, programs, and student opportunities. At the same time, the district is hugely reducing its carbon footprint. Collectively, these systems will offset a substantial share of the district’s electricity use while reducing carbon emissions – equivalent to taking hundreds of cars off the road.

Westbrook Public Schools’ solar investment reflects the district’s commitment to responsible stewardship and student success. The initiative also demonstrates thoughtful financial decision-making combined with environmental responsibility to prepare students for the future while strengthening the community and reducing environmental impacts.

“This is about more than installing panels. It’s about creating the conditions for long-term success: one where we actively manage what we can control, reduce fixed costs, and make smart investments that benefit our schools and our community for decades.”— Dr. Mazjanis, Assistant Superintendent of Finance

A Model for Schools Across Maine

Westbrook’s leadership offers a clear takeaway: solar is one of the most effective tools available to schools looking to stabilize budgets and plan for the future. With large, unobstructed roof space and predictable daytime energy use, schools are uniquely positioned to benefit from solar. And with an experienced, employee-owned partner like ReVision Energy, districts can move forward with confidence.

As Counselor Michael Shaughnessy said in a recent city council meeting, “solar takes advantage of the fact that an unobstructed roof is a natural resource.”   

Ready to stabilize energy costs and explore solar for your school district? Send us an email: hello@revisionenergy.com 

Updates April 2026: Plug-in solar has now been approved in Maine, and will likely be approved in New Hampshire soon. However – systems are not available yet for purchase which meet the requirements. In Maine, we expect there to be products in the next 6-12 months that meet the solar standards required by the bill. We’ll continue to update this post as our regions approve legislation. 

Plug-in solar, also called balcony solar, has taken off in Germany, where an estimated 4 million systems have been installed. Now, policymakers across the US are working on regulations to make this type of solar permissible. Last year, Utah passed plug-in solar legislation with bipartisan support. Lawmakers in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts have all introduced legislation for consideration in 2026.

Is plug-in solar the golden solution to solar affordability? Or is a 3-panel balcony system too small to actually make a difference? The answer, as usual, is somewhere in the middle. While plug-in solar increases accessibility and provides a low-cost gateway to the world of renewable energy, there are some safety and scalability concerns.

Our hope? That in addition to providing opportunities for DIY small scale solar, discussions around plug-in solar will highlight the real way to lower energy costs: by fixing our broken permitting and interconnection systems, by building equitable community solar for renters, and by lowering barriers to larger-scale solar that is proven to make a dent in energy bills and the climate crisis.

What Is Plug-In Solar?

A typical plug-in solar system consists of 1-4 small solar panels placed on a patio or balcony – often simply zip-tied into place – and plugged into a standard outlet. In Germany the systems retail at $300 – $1200, with some of the pricier systems including battery storage. Energy produced by the system is fed back through the existing branch circuits in your home and goes directly to your home appliances, offsetting energy bills. Exact numbers depend on the usual factors – orientation, angle, appliance efficiency, utility rate – but plug-in solar is estimated to offset an average of 5% of a home’s electric load, saving people a few hundred dollars every year.

Much like our Member-Owned Community Solar projects in Maine, plug-in solar could make solar production possible for renters and condo-owners. However, unlike Member-Owned Community Solar (where residents can offset close to 100% of their electric bill with clean solar energy), plug-in solar is only able to produce a small amount of energy.

Safety & Quality Concerns: Should Solar Really Be a DIY Project?

As an employee-owned company, ReVision takes particular pride in the quality of our solar installations, and the safety of our co-owners and customers. We prioritize safety and longevity over speed, ensuring our customers understand the systems, their monitoring, and the 25-year warranty. Poor-quality installs and intimidating sales tactics have already damaged the solar industry reputation (that’s why we made our Guide to Avoiding Shady Practices last year), so we need to create a safe, viable pathway for quality plug-in solar installations. This may mean requiring a licensed electrician to oversee the installation or obtaining a permit through your town code office (as is required for other home improvements).

Where do New England states stand?

Although plug-in solar systems can technically be purchased online right now, it is only currently permitted in the state of Utah, which legalized small portable solar systems in 2025 with unanimous, bipartisan support. With plug-in solar hype sweeping the nation, there are now at least 21 other states examining the permitting in 2026, including all three of the states in which ReVision operates:

Maine (LD 1730)

• Maine legislators have passed LD 1730, the active bill that formally legalizes plug‑in solar and small plug‑in batteries. Governor Mills signed the bill on April 6. 
• The bill exempts plug‑in systems from the interconnection process, defining a maximum system size, and creating a utility notification requirement so utilities can track aggregate installed capacity.
• ReVision Energy provided written testimony in support of LD 1730, emphasizing the fact that plug-in solar will increase accessibility to a broad group of Mainers.
• Despite the law passing, federal safety standards still need to be developed, so plug-in solar is not yet available in Maine. 

“Solar—as it always has been—is a solution for rising electricity prices. Enabling smaller solar systems introduces affordability and thus increases market access, enabling more Mainers to take agency over their electricity bills—especially those that need the most relief.” —Lindsay Bourgoine, ReVision Energy Director of Policy & Government Affairs

New Hampshire (SB 540)

• SB 540 has both Democratic and Republican sponsors, which gives it strong potential. The bill exempts plug‑in systems from interconnection and net metering, sets safety standards, and allows export in some cases
• This “behind‑the‑meter only” structure keeps administrative burdens low while still letting people offset some of their own usage.
• Like Maine’s bill, it requires homeowners notify the utility, specifically sharing wattage and number of devices
• It requires the DOE to establish a website with relevant information on plug-in solar for consumers on devices, meter compatibility, bill impacts, safety standards, and considerations.

“There is a surprisingly simple ‘live free’ solution available to every Granite Stater to lower their electricity bills and become more energy independent — if state rules will let them. It’s called plug-in solar and a new bipartisan bill in Concord would make it law . . . It’s a quintessentially New Hampshire solution, free of bureaucratic red tape.”
—Dan Weeks and George Hansel, op-ed, New Hampshire Union Leader

Massachusetts (Energy Affordability Package)

• MA typically moves legislation through large, omnibus bills.
• Plug‑in solar language is currently in Section 37 of H4744 of this year’s Energy Affordability package. The House and Senate will work together on one final package, likely including plug-in solar, later this year.
• As currently written, it does exempt plug-in solar from interconnection requirements and net metering. 

Shining a Light on Interconnection Issues

Plug-in solar is highlighting a fact we’ve been trying to communicate for years: the costs and timelines for utility interconnection are too long, and the risks to the grid from small, behind-the-meter solar are exceptionally small. In the U.S. the “soft costs” associated with solar – permitting, interconnection applications, negotiations with the utility – are incredibly burdensome and resource-intensive, making the overall cost of a solar installation higher than it needs to be. 

Our hope with plug-in solar is that it will reveal how simple and straightforward the process can be for small-scale solar – whether that’s a 3-panel balcony array at an apartment, or a 12-panel rooftop array on a single-family home.

Podcast Recommendation: “Volts” interview with Saul Griffith

“This balcony solar is a good thing, but I see it more as flying the flag than the thing that’s substantial. It’s a hack. America should tear the band-aid off and do proper energy market reform and proper permit reform and proper workforce training for deploying solar.” —Saul Griffith

Our takeaway:

We’re excited about the possibility of plug-in solar because it makes renewable energy more accessible and launches the right discussions about solar regulation. ReVision Energy’s mission is to create a just and equitable electric future, and both of these outcomes – permitting plug-in solar and re-examining interconnection issues – would allow many more New Englanders to reduce their fossil fuel dependence.

Plug-in solar identifies the right problems (permitting and interconnection cost and complexity, and equitable access for renters/apartment dwellers) but doesn’t provide the full scope of a solution. If we can get the cost of full-scale, professionally designed and installed solar down to $1 per watt (as they’ve done in Australia), solar adoption would soar – without anyone having to zip tie a panel to their railing.

Further Reading/Watching/Listening

Volts Podcast: What’s the Deal with Balcony Solar?

PBS NewsHour: Small, Plug-In Solar

The Guardian “Power Surge: law changes” 

Bloomberg “The Push for US Balcony Solar Comes to California“

Maximize comfort, save energy, and get the most from your heat pumps in cold New England weather.

More New Englanders are switching from dirty, fossil-fuel heating systems (like gas boilers or oil furnaces) to super-efficient air source heat pumps. If you pair  your heat pumps with solar energy, you’re locking in a really low rate for heating and cooling. But even if you haven’t gone solar yet*, you’ll want to get the most out of your heat pumps this winter.

We spoke with master plumber and HVAC specialist Dave Ragsdale, who has over 15 years of experience designing and building these systems, to share the best tips for efficiency and comfort.*Schedule a free site visit to see how much your home can save with solar energy!

*Schedule a free site visit to see how much your home can save with solar energy!

Tips for Heat Pumps in Winter

1. Treat the Remote Like a Comfort Meter

Unlike traditional thermostats, heat pump units are mounted high on the wall, so the temperature setting is more of a comfort guide than an exact reading.

“I had a classic New Englander’s mental block – I hated the idea of setting my thermostat over 70. But at 72 my heat pump is working smoothly and the room is comfortably and reliably around 66 degrees.”— Jill, ReVision co-owner and heat pump owner

2. Set It and Forget It 

Heat pumps work best when maintaining a steady temperature, not when constantly turned off and on. If you’re leaving for the day or overnight, keep them at the set temperature.

Dave’s rule of thumb:

• Up to 3 days away: Leave the heat pump at your normal setting.
• More than 3 days: Switch to “away mode” at 60°F (or as low as 50°F in some cases).

“Since every house is unique, there’s no universal setback law. But generally, leave the heat pump at the desired temperature for absences up to three days. Longer than that, use the ‘away mode’ setback of 60 degrees. Each house loses heat at a specific and unique rate, so we recommend experimenting with setback. The longer you are gone, the better setback works.” —Dave Ragsdale

3. Prepare for Extreme Cold

Heat pumps operate down to -22°F, but below that, they may struggle or shut down. When a cold snap is predicted:

4. Extra Efficiency Tips

4. Pair Your Heat Pump with Solar Energy

To truly maximize your savings and efficiency, power your heat pump with the sun. This can result in a locked-in electric rate down to 9 cents per kilowatt-hour – the equivalent of paying $0.95/gallon of heating oil.

Book your free solar or heat pump site visit today and find out how much you can save!

As employee-owners of a solar company, we’re working on climate action every day – one solar panel, heat pump, battery, or EV charger at a time. Solar energy is one of the most concrete steps towards mitigating climate action, and we love working in a field with such immediate and positive impacts on the planet. But we also know there are a variety of ways in which people are fighting the climate crisis, and we enjoy learning about those as well.

For a book holiday gift guide this year, we asked ReVision Energy co-owners what environmental-themed books they’d give as gifts (and their favorite bookstores – have to shop local, after all!)

Fiction 

The Ministry for the Future written by Kim Stanley Robinson  

“This novel shows a future where the world comes together to systemically address climate change through law, finance, and technology. If you’re a fan of science fiction, or especially of Kim Stanley Robinson’s ability to build worlds, this is a great read.” —Chuck Hayward, EV Analyst  

“Realistic climate fiction, set in the near future, with a happy ending!” —Chris Jones, Solar Designer 

Co-Founder Fortunat Mueller was hesitant to recommend this one because “it is terrifying. But it has a certain optimism buried in its apocalyptic story.”  

The Overstory written by Richard Powers 

“Not just one of the best pieces of climate fiction I’ve read, one of my favorite books, period!” —Owen Davis, Solar Designer 

“I think it is so incredibly beautifully written.” —Fortunat Mueller, Co-Founder

Stay and Fight written by Madeline Ffitch 

“Set in Appalachia, three women try to raise a child against a backdrop of fracking, poverty, and homophobia. The novel is told in pieces by the couple, Lily and Karen, the new neighbor, Helen, and the boy, Perley. It’s a really beautiful look at human fallibility and what it means to be a family while trying to fix the world.” —Jill McLaughlin, Digital Marketing 

Wild Dark Shore written by Charlotte McConaghy

“This book is about a family who is responsible for maintaining a seed vault and lighthouse on a remote island off of Antarctica. They have to battle stormy seas, rising tides, and social interactions with the researchers on the island. When a woman washes ashore the mystery starts to unfold, who is she and why is she there?” —Allison Barbour, Commercial Development

The Fifth Season written by N.K. Jemisin 

“This book is related to all of the climate and environmental topics – it’s just in a fantasy format. This novel from the legendary writer N.K. Jemisin will challenge you and stick with you for years and years.” —Connor Rasmussen, New Construction Solar

The Monkey Wrench Gang written by Edward Abbey 

“I read it as a teenager and it opened my eyes to how focused mayhem can be used as a force for positive change.” —Tom Carter, Solar Advisor  

Ishmael written by Daniel Quinn 

“It’s amazing and life-changing. About 30 years old, and I think it still resonates.” —Chris Bitely, Community Solar  

Non-Fiction 

Fen, Bog, and Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis written by Annie Proulx  

“I picked it up at Books Upstairs, an incredible bookstore in Dublin, just before we went to Connemara which is chock full of bogs.” —Annie Brown, Service  

Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England written by Tom Wessels  

“It makes you see the New England landscape in a completely new way.” —Lydia Berry, Marketing

Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, edited by Paul Hawken 

“It’s an excellent book for any climate action fan to keep on their shelf and pull out time and time again for motivation and quick access to real solutions to mitigate climate change.” —Kelly Marett, Commercial O&M

All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson

“An insightful and uplifting view into how we can think about climate solutions and women leading the way.” —Megan Ulin, Development  

Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson 

“A realistic outline of what can be done if we remove obstacles and how it can benefit humans. It is very American-focused and glosses over some considerations, but it is also timely given the less-than-ideal timeline we have to address climate change and the compromises that must be made to have a true impact.” —Justin Paynter, Solar Designer 

The Sea Around Us written by Rachel Carson  

“Rachel Carson writes about science and biodiversity in a way that manages to be educational while also being clear and approachable at the same time. The Sea Around Us is filled with joy and wonder at our shared natural world.” —Luke Curran, Solar Designer

Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change written by Sherri Mitchell  

“Sherri Mitchell is an Indigenous attorney, activist, and author from the Penobscot Nation. She has a solar array from ReVision on a barn in Monroe, ME on her land that holds the Land Peace Foundation. She narrates the audiobook.” —Stefan Apse, Solar Designer  

The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health-and a Vision for Change written by Annie Leonard

“This will make you look around your home and think about all the stuff – where it came from, and where it will end up. How much of it do you really need? A very timely read after an industry fabricated holiday making you feel like you need to buy, buy, buy! It’s full of striking facts about consumerist culture.” —Kristine Corey, Customer Experience

Life in the City of Dirty Water: a Memoir of Healing written by Clayton Thomas Muller  

“Clayton Thomas-Muller’s book was recommended by an environmental organizer friend who met the author at a conference. It’s a personal story of resilience that makes powerful connections between systems of cultural oppression and environmental harm, and offers a lot of inspiration in its vision of healing and community organizing.” —Andy Toomajilian, Commercial Sales

Children’s Books 

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, Unstoppable Us by Yuval Noah Harari, Rewild the World at Bedtime by Emily Hawkins 

“These books are all compelling stories for children that entertain as well as invite curiosity!” —Caitlin Brooke, Marketing  

And a non-comprehensive list of our favorite local bookstores: 

• The Bookmill (Montague, MA)
• Federal Street Books (Greenfield MA)
• Unnamable Books (Turners Falls, MA)
• Grey Matter Books (Hadley, MA)
• Brookline Booksmith (Brookline, MA)
• Water Street Book Store (Exeter, NH)
• Gibson’s Bookstore (Concord, NH)
• Nonesuch Books (South Portland, ME)
• hello hello books (Rockland, ME)
• Arctic Tern Books (Rockland, ME)
• PRINT: a bookstore (Portland, ME)
• Sherman’s (Freeport, ME)
• Left Bank Books (Belfast, Maine)
• Greenhand (Portland, ME)
• Letterpress Books (Portland, ME)
• Back Cove Books (Portland, ME)
• Anodyne (Searsport, ME)

We’re seeing solar payback periods of 7-10 years (and thousands of dollars in electric savings), but solar is still a big investment, and choosing the right installer is important. Below we’ve gathered some quotes from customers who consulted other solar installers – and ultimately chose ReVision Energy. From our employee-ownership to our non-pushy salespeople and professional installation crews, here’s why New Englanders are happy they went solar with ReVision:

We’re employee-owned; we’re with you for the long haul:

“I owned a small business for almost 40 years and I know great quality when I see it. I saw it with ReVision Energy. I initially reached out to about 5 solar installation companies for my house. I settled on ReVision due to their history, employee-owned, communication, and I assume future longevity. I have not been disappointed. Working with ReVision Energy exceeded all my expectations.” —Jim H., York, ME

“After calling about 5 or 6 solar companies and getting a quote from all of them, ReVision was a no-brainer to me. Not only their pricing but the time they have been in the business and also the warranty they offered me. Everyone I dealt with was extremely knowledgeable and helpful in every step of the process. From the first call to the finished product installed, we couldn’t be happier.” —Savio M., Biddeford, ME

“We did our homework. We did the research. We interviewed a number of companies. We attended a green energy fair. We chose ReVision and we could not be happier. From our first meeting to the installs of both our solar panels and hot water heater the process was excellent. Our concerns and questions were addressed and answered. We felt involved and informed throughout the process.” —Mary Y., Brentwood, NH

An in-house service team is critical: 

“I got all these crazy quotes with numbers all over the place from no-name companies, and they kept messaging me with these fake deadlines. I have friends in the industry and they tell me that one of the most important things is to find a company that has their own service team and stands behind their installs. So I signed up with ReVision! Great experience. I am going to save more than $100K in utility costs over the next 20 years.” —Chris M., Sutton, MA

“We spoke with 6 companies prior to contracting with ReVision and could not be more pleased with the entire process. From the initial meeting with their sale representative, through the entire contract, scheduling and actual installation, they were all top notch. We are loving looking at our Solar Edge app and seeing all the excess electricity we are producing.” —Maureen and Andy., York, ME

Familiar, grounded, authentic: 

“Solar was a no-brainer for us. We actually had a door-to-door salesman approach us from a national company when we were outside doing yard work. After he tried to sell us on it with a lot of catch phrases and fancy pitches, we reached out to ReVision and immediately felt incredibly at home. Each person we worked with not only felt like a person we’d want to hang out with (and we can because they all live around here) but they all embodied the ethos that ReVision stands for. From start to finish, ReVision was familiar, grounded, and authentic.” —Christina W., Cape Elizabeth, ME

“I had the worst experience with [another solar installer]. I was so lost with those people. It was mind boggling, there was no correspondence with them, and I didn’t know what anything was. We even got up to the finance part of it, and I just had this feeling that was like ‘this isn’t right, don’t do it.’ And then my son told me to call ReVision, and he was right.’” —Heidi S., Alfred, ME 

Our installers are THE best: 

“I got 3 proposals from 3 different solar installers, and while ReVision wasn’t the cheapest, I couldn’t be happier with the choice I’ve made. Their installers go above and beyond; they FOUND AND FIXED a hole made by the previous heat pump contractor, where many others would say “not my work, not my problem.” I am 100% confident that ReVision has the highest quality workmanship that will hold up to years of weathering, and the in-house operations team were kind and responsive to any requests. It is apparent that everyone from sales to operations to install teams take great pride in the work they do.” —Dylan L., Dover, NH

Our latest blog series “Driving on Sunshine,” features the real-world experiences from our co-owners and customers as they navigate New England in electric vehicles (EVs). From Smart Cars to Ford Lightnings, from Chevy Bolts to Ioniq 5s, these stories will highlight the variety of ways to drive electric, and explore how pairing EV with solar can turn everyday driving into a cleaner, quieter, more enjoyable and more cost-effective experience.

Fortunat Mueller, Co-Founder & CEO

I’ve been driving in EVs since 1999 (with a short interruption in the early ReVision days, when I was driving gas pickup trucks and then a plug-in hybrid). Each vehicle has been so dramatically better than the previous one that it is pretty amazing to experience. EVs are already so much better than gas cars, but they are also improving so much faster, so the gap just keeps getting wider. As of this summer, we’re now a 2 EV household and soon to be 3 since my oldest daughter has just started Drivers Ed (yikes).

Scroll for a timeline of Fortunat’s EV journey:

1988 VW Jetta (converted to EV in 1999 as an independent study project in grad school with friends) 

1984 Pontiac Fiero (converted to EV in 2005) 

2017 Chevy Bolt: 

I think the Bolt is a great EV. It isn’t flashy and doesn’t set anyone’s heart aflutter, but when it came out it was the first affordable EV with range over 230 miles (both the affordability and the range have improved considerably since then). Though it is FWD, I put winter tires on it and have always felt confident driving it, even in poor winter weather. 

2024 Ford Lightning 

I really love most everything about the Ford Lightning. It is quick and comfortable to drive, and quiet. The frunk is huge, which is an awesome feature in a pickup; it’s great to have some meaningful storage space that is out of the weather for tools, etc. My only complaint is that I think it is just too big. Since I live in the country, that doesn’t usually bother me, but whenever I drive into the city (or frankly even to the grocery store), I am reminded that the truck is really just absurdly large. I hope that by the time I’m shopping for my next vehicle, an electric midsized truck is an option.

1997 Solectria Flash (Daihatsu Hijet)  

(obtained in 1997 but currently a work-in-progress in my barn)

Our latest blog series “Driving on Sunshine,” features the real-world experiences from our co-owners and customers as they navigate New England in electric vehicles (EVs). From Smart Cars to Ford Lightnings, from Chevy Bolts to Ioniq 5s, these stories will highlight the variety of ways to drive electric, and explore how pairing EV with solar can turn everyday driving into a cleaner, quieter, more enjoyable and more cost-effective experience.

Lisa Scott, Customer Experience Specialist, North Andover, MA

My partner, Dave, recently bought a pre-owned Volkswagen ID.4 from Jesse Lore at Green Wave Electric Vehicles in North Hampton, NH, and the whole experience was fantastic. Jesse spent most of a Saturday morning with us while we test drove around 10 different cars. Being able to compare so many options really helped us feel confident in our choice, so I would absolutely recommend Green Wave for their great selection and deep industry knowledge.

Driving the ID.4 has been life-changing. It’s powerful, quiet, and handles beautifully, like piloting a spaceship. It’s hands-down my favorite car ever. I’m hoping to get my own EV soon, once we’re ready to say goodbye to gas for good.

We have a Wallbox charger in our garage, which we generally use at night to earn bill credits from National Grid. We recently had our own solar and battery system installed by a wonderful ReVision crew, and are looking forward to charging from the sun.

 I drive the ID.4 to our North Andover branch about once a week and charge on one of the Level 2 chargers shared with other co-owners. I love those drives; the car is just so. much. fun. It’s so zippy that I don’t need to worry that I’m going to get clobbered by oncoming vehicles when I pull onto Route 114 in North Andover.

Dave and I have taken the car on several road trips to upstate New York and the Adirondacks. We were a bit cautious at first because of range anxiety, but the charging network is surprisingly extensive and improving quickly. Just be prepared to download a bunch of different apps; there’s a lot of variety out there. That said, charging stops haven’t been too frequent, and they usually only take 15 to 30 minutes, so they don’t slow us down much at all. This car has brought us more joy than I thought a car could, and we look forward to a future of widespread EV-adoption.

Dana Ward, Solar Champion, Biddeford, ME

We have a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime Plug-in Hybrid. It gets around 28 miles on the battery in the summer and 22 in the winter. After the battery is fully discharged we get around 55 MPG in the summer and 60+ MPG in the summer. We power the battery with our ReVision Energy-installed solar panels and EV charger, all compliments of the sun. 

Hans Brandes, Solar Champion, Falmouth, ME 

I have a Ford Lightning and charge at home and at our camp up north. We are part of two ReVision member-owned community solar projects.