By MECHELE COOPER

Staff Writer

Innkeeper Scott Cowger and his guests stood on the roof of Maple Hill Farm Bed & Breakfast and Conference Center on Thursday to formally unveil what is being touted as the largest assembly of solar thermal panels and tubes in the state.

Even though hands and faces were stinging from the bitter cold, heat was being generated for the combined solar hot water and grid-tied electric system.

"We're doing this because we have a strong personal belief to minimize our impact on the environment, but also, it's a good business decision," Cowger said of the project at his bed and breakfast at 11 Inn Road. "It has a fairly quick payback. The system will be paid for in five years. And then we'll be putting money back into our pockets."

The system was installed by Energyworks LLC in Portland. Cowger said electric and fuel oil savings are expected to amount to $4,000 a year.

Engergyworks estimates that the system is expected to reduce the annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 40,000 pounds. Before the system was installed, Energyworks estimated that Cowger's business was responsible for 160,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when carbon-containing fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal are burned. Some scientists say major changes in global climate could result from the continued increase in carbon dioxide concentration.

Cowger, a former state senator from Hallowell, said the system collects solar rays to generate electricity and heat hot water -- he has two, 160-gallon hot water storage tanks in the basement. Three power inverters convert direct current into conventional alternating current electricity so it can be used in the building.

"We're going to use the power here and sell the green tags," he said. "And that will bring in a little more income to offset the cost. We'll get about $1,000 back a year."

Green tags are a paper record created whenever a unit of electricity is produced. By purchasing these tags, you are using your money to support electricity generated by renewable resources, which exclude oil, coal and nuclear.

Cowger said Maple Hill's solar electric system will be selling the renewable energy credits or green tags to the New England Power Pool through Downeast Solar Co-op.

Bill Behrens, director of Energyworks, said Cowger's system is part of Central Maine Power's grid and that the system generates 15 kilowatts of electricity, which would power six homes.

"The systems are getting bigger and more and more commercial establishments are going solar," Behrens said Thursday.

Cowger said he received a Rural Development $41,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture toward the overall cost of the $166,000 system and a $35,000 low-interest loan from the Maine Public Utilities Commission's energy conservation loan program.

John Sheehan, business and cooperative specialist with USDA Rural Development, said Cowger's project was designed to reduce energy costs and America's dependency on foreign oil.

"(The grant program) was created to provide an alternative source of funding," Sheehan said. "We focus on small rural businesses and organizations."

Erika Morgan of the Maine Energy Investment Corporation in Brunswick on Thursday handed over a check to Cowger for $3,000 from the nonprofit's reinvestment fund.

"(The fund) was created by people who bought green power and want to make it possible for other people to create green power," Morgan said.

Peter Cooke of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection manages the state's incentive program called "Environmental Leader."

Maple Hill was the first certified Environmental Leader green lodging establishment. To be certified, Cooke said a business has to meet certain criteria and earn credits.

"We have 33 hotels and motels certified as leaders now, from Downeast to Bethel and Ogunquit to Moosehead Lake," Cooke said. "They accumulate enough credits to be considered and this place is off the Richter scale."

Maple Hill also uses a wind turbine with a capacity of 10 kilowatts to generate renewable energy, which was installed in 2003.

Cowger said he is grateful for the support of this commercial-scale renewable energy project.

"Another reason we're doing this is to encourage other business people to look at solar energy," Cowger said. "I'm the former chair of the Natural Resource Committee, so I guess you could say I'm putting my money where my mouth is."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com