Navi Whitten, a College of the Atlantic undergraduate from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, was raised in a small coastal town exploring tide pools and adventuring in the sea. “At College of the Atlantic, I am driven to find energy solutions for the rural communities on the Maine Islands,” he said. “I currently help manage North Haven Oyster Company where three of us sustainably grow hundreds of thousands of oysters on a small island. Maine is my home, and I want to increase the quality of life here as much as I can.”

[Editor's note: This is the fourth article in a 4-part series (read Part I , Part II and Part III) from College of the Atlantic students studying ways to develop and implement renewable energy solutions for the Maine coast in a unique multidisciplinary, multigenerational field-based course developed by College of the Atlantic faculty and the Island Institute under the auspices of the Fund for Maine Islands. College of the Atlantic is an University partner on EcoWatch.]

After spending three informative, inspiring weeks at the Energy Academy on Samso island, Denmark, students of College of the Atlantic and participants and staff of the Island Institute returned to the U.S. to tackle energy challenges for the people of Maine—specifically, islanders.

Vinalhaven and North Haven—two islands in midcoast Maine that make up the Fox Islands—have small year-round communities that rely on the lobster industry as the primary source of economic stability with tourism following behind.

Vinalhaven and North Haven—two islands in midcoast Maine that make up the Fox Islands—have small year-round communities that rely on the lobster industry as the primary source of economic stability with tourism following behind. But lobstering is in danger of succumbing to high energy prices, among other challenges. Photo credit: Navi Whitten
Vinalhaven and North Haven—two islands in midcoast Maine that make up the Fox Islands—have small year-round communities that rely on the lobster industry as the primary source of economic stability with tourism following behind. But lobstering is in danger of succumbing to high energy prices, among other challenges. Photo credit: Navi Whitten

In the 2010 U.S. census, North Haven’s year-round population was 355, increasing to 1,000 in the summer. The same census showed Vinalhaven’s year-round population was 1,165; 2,200 in the summer.

The two islands are separated by the small Fox Island thoroughfare, which hosts much of North Haven’s lobstering fleet and moored sailboats in the summer. Vinalhaven is a larger island, with a larger lobstering fleet. There are two separate ferries that depart Rockland to carry passengers, automobiles, and goods to and from the islands; the passage is 12 miles each way.

The two islands get electricity from the local utility, Fox Island Electric Cooperative (FIEC). Five years ago, in response to a growing demand for lower electricity costs and energy independence from the mainland, FIEC completed its first major renewable energy project: three new 1,500-kilowatt wind turbines, which generate a combined 11,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually.

Three wind turbines have provided local power to the Fox Islands, but it doesn't provide enough power for seasonal demand. Photo credit: Fox Islands Energy Cooperative
Three wind turbines have provided local power to the Fox Islands, but it doesn’t provide enough power for seasonal demand. Photo credit: Fox Islands Energy Cooperative

The two islands’ residents consume about 10,000 kWh annually so, to the untrained eye, it looks like the turbines supply enough electricity, with a 1,000 kWh surplus.

Not so fast.

The turbines generate most of the electricity when the wind is blowing steadily at fair speeds, which is the case for most of the year, September through June. However, in July and August, electricity consumption grows with the population. This wouldn’t be a problem, if, in those two months, the wind kept blowing like it does the rest of the year. But it doesn’t: The energy generated by the turbines in July and August doesn’t even come close to the residents’ consumption.

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