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The largest solar project in New England.

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In southern Franklin County, about thirty miles northwest of Maine's state capital, lies the town of Farmington. Farmington is a town populated by roughly 7,500 people and is known for its rolling hills, clear rivers, and fertile farmlands that have attracted people to the area for generations. Farmington is home to an award winning business directory and historic downtown, many community owned and operated farm shares, The University of Maine at Farmington, and is even the birthplace of Chester Greenwood, inventor of the earmuff; and of two-time Olympic Gold Medalist snowboarder, Seth Wescott! Now, Farmington has an additional factor contributing to its vast uniqueness: a 490-acre, $110 million, 76.5-megawatt solar farm which also happens to be the largest solar project in New England.

Explore the Website

Sandy River Valley

Scroll through some Farmington history and observe the solar farm as an addition to the local landscape.

An old painting of a decades-old Farmington main street, with horse-drawn carriages passing between brick and wood buildings.

New England Colleges Renewable Partnership

Explore the role of Hampshire, Williams, Bowdoin, Smith, and Amherst Colleges in the Farmington Solar Project.

An image of a the Connecticut River, a large, curving body of water lined with autumn trees, various farming plots and fields on either side of the river.

An image of the Earth from space, showing Europe lit up at night.

Why Solar?

How does solar help combat climate change? How does it benefit Farmington?

Research Project

Meet the research team that is responsible for the creation of this website!

An image of the interns visiting the farm and learning about the project.

An aesthetic close-up of a solar panel, rolling mountains showing above it.

FAQs / Resources

Do you have specific questions that you want fast answers to? Are you interested in learning more about solar energy, climate change, or dairy farms? Check out this page!

This website was designed and published in part by a collaborative summer research team supported by Amherst, Smith, and Williams College. All material was collected by Larissa Holland, Smith '20; Witter Swanson, Amherst '21; and Evan Wright, Williams '21.

The story of the ​Farmington Solar Project