A Hermon solar company that is already the subject of two lawsuits and complaints to authorities over delayed installations or refunds has now run afoul of the state’s revenue department.
A sign on the door of Pine Tree Solar on Monday afternoon from Maine Revenue Services said the company was “closed for business with the general public” because its registration certificate was revoked for not complying with the state’s sales and use tax law.
The revenue department confirmed that the notice was authentic, but it would not say what prompted it for confidentiality reasons.
“There are many reasons a registration certificate could be revoked and would be specific to each tax situation,” Sharon Huntley, a spokesperson for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, which includes Maine Revenue Services, said. “Due to confidentiality concerns, MRS will not comment on individual tax situations.”
Pine Tree Solar owner Michael Griggs said the company, which installs solar on homes and businesses and larger community solar arrays, is still in business while it settles paperwork with the state. The Bangor Daily News called the company’s office Monday and Tuesday, and no one answered the phone. Griggs said no one was at the office Monday, but his crews were on site and everything was still operational.
A BDN reporter visited the office on Tuesday and found only Griggs there. The office space had no furniture, only stacks of paper on a counter. The Maine Revenue Services sign was no longer on the door.
“I’ve already contacted the state,” Griggs said about the notice. “I just needed to update some paperwork that wasn’t reported on time.”
A BDN investigation late last year found that the company is the center of controversy for its patterns of not completing jobs or not refunding money to customers. So far, seven complaints about the company have been filed with the Maine attorney general’s office, three with the Better Business Bureau in both Maine and Massachusetts, and six with the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces federal consumer protection laws to prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices.
The attorney general’s office and the FTC both confirmed the number of complaints, but they said the names of those who filed them and their contents are confidential. The attorney general’s office declined to comment on whether it would launch an investigation. It said it has not received more complaints since last November. Comments to the Better Business Bureau are online.
Even though the attorney general’s office would not comment on whether it was investigating the company, Griggs said he has requests from that office that he is “complying with, and everything seems to be moving satisfactorily.” He said he would not disclose what information the attorney general’s office has requested.
The revenue services notice is the latest in a list of troubles for Pine Tree Solar. In January, a lawsuit filed in Bangor District Court alleged the company defaulted on 18 different auto loans through Camden National Bank. The solar company owes about $259,700 of the original $535,670 loan.
It also is facing another lawsuit from a couple who alleged the company has not refunded a $20,100 deposit after failing to do any work. As of November there were seven complaints filed against the company with the Maine attorney general’s office.
Pine Tree Solar also was cited in April by the Maine Department of Labor for failing to pay 13 employees. The company has since paid about $38,540 of the $39,305 owed, according to the labor department. Other employees have complained of bounced paychecks.
“My paychecks bounced twice before I left,” Shaun Stephenson, a former Pine Tree Solar project manager who now has his own solar company, said. “Griggs once asked to borrow $5,000 from me when he couldn’t even make payroll. He is a sweet talker, but I told him no.”
There also is a federal tax lien on the company’s property at 48 Liberty Drive and eight other liens associated with its business and customers.
Despite what appear to be dire financial straits, Griggs remained upbeat.
“The business is continuing, and it is going to pay its debts as it can,” Griggs said. “Everything is moving forward.”
Investigative reporter Sawyer Loftus contributed to this report.
Lori Valigra is an investigative environment reporter for the BDN’s Maine Focus team. She may be reached at [email protected]. Support for this reporting is provided by the Unity Foundation and donations by BDN readers.
