Recently, in Portland, we see the landscape and skyline growing with shiny, spendy buildings like The Roux Institute, WEX’s new corporate headquarters and the new buildings at USM on Bedford Street. But one might take a moment, while passing by, and consider what’s missing from these massive, modern projects: any significant integration of solar photovoltaic electricity production.

Even at USM’s newest buildings — which include a highly publicized, Passive House-rated residence hall — there is only a tiny amount of solar (33 kilowatts) compared to the viable solar surface area of the roofs and façades. By rough dimensioning and commercially available materials, this project could have hosted the better part of a megawatt (1 million watts DC). It’s a shame; that’s enough production to power a couple of city blocks.

These buildings are drawn up with enormous budgets, specific designs, and one can watch as the construction unfolds over weeks, months and years. With all this time, energy and planning, it’s become something cringeworthy to see the buildings come out in the same, basic styles, made up with shiny, lifeless materials. Something that more resembles “Boston generic” than Maine’s own cutting edge.

Maine gets a decent amount of sun. Why don’t our engineers, architects and construction folks integrate solar into the buildings, and utilize more of the natural resources we have filtering into the urban environment? Ask a tradesperson what breaks down their materials and installations over time. Solar PVs are the one thing that actually wants to get hammered with 30 years of UV sunlight.

Will Kessler, NABCEP-PVIP
Portland