CHP in Maine. The U.S. Department of Energy has selected the University of Maine to lead one of eight regional partnerships dedicated to the promotion, technical support, and deployment of cost-effective and highly efficient combined heat and power (CHP) technologies throughout the nation. UMaine, in partnership with the University of New Hampshire and Watson Strategy Group, will oversee the CHP Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) center in the northeast region, including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Microgrids in Maine. A recent devastating wind storm swept through Maine with 80 mph wind gusts and cut out power for more than a half million Mainers, earning it the distinction of being the largest power outage in Maine history.  Other states are working on creating more reliability and resilient electricity grids.  The Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee is holding meetings on LD 257, which seeks to promote and incorporate microgrids and other innovative energy technologies.

Heating Oil in Maine. Maine’s winter heating season is in full swing and heating oil, kerosene, and propane prices are climbing.  Watch the Maine Governor’s Energy Office website for changes in fuel prices through March 2018.

EVs in Maine. Electric charging stations are popping up all over Maine, including recent installations at E2Tech Members LL Bean and Hannaford. Now, you can charge up while you wind down at Flight Deck Brewing in Brunswick. Tesla installed three charging stations at the brewery at Brunswick Landing, joining solar and an anaerobic digester as components of a burgeoning renewable energy center at Brunswick Landing.

Environmental Excellence in Maine. Governor Paul R. LePage and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection announced the recipients of the 2017 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The awards recognize businesses, public entities, and individuals for their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve Maine’s environment. E2Tech congratulates Pratt & Whitney and the City of Brewer for their awards, but sends a special shout-out to E2Tech co-founder and former Board Member James Atwell, Retired Senior Project Manager – Sevee & Maher Engineers. Inc. Throughout his 50-year career as a civil and environmental engineer, Jim has used his professional skills to make Maine a better place to work and live. 

Governor's Energy Bill. The Governor's Technical Energy Advisor, Jim LaBrecque, announced on a radio show that the Governor is working on an energy bill for the upcoming legislative session to reduce oil use, decrease heating and transportation costs, and reduce CO2 through "real time pricing". 

PUC Delays Solar Net Metering Change. The Maine Public Utilities Commission has decided to delay for four months the solar power net energy billing (aka net metering) rule that would gradually reduce the amount of credit for solar energy until the end of April 2018. The rule was originally slated to go into effect on January 1, 2018. 

E2Tech’s third annual Expo occurred on Thursday, November 16. This year’s Expo engaged private, public, and nonprofit stakeholders to help other organizations access the resources they need to promote their products, services, and technologies; accelerate their growth; compete in national and international markets; support a robust and innovative state environmental and energy market and workforce; and make Maine an innovation hub to start and grow a business. More than 350 people attended the Expo, in addition to our 30 speakers, 18 event sponsors, and 20 exhibitors. If you happened to miss a presenter or wanted to review a point spoken during the day, you can watch a recording of the Expo or review a specific presenter’s presentation on the Expo webpage. 

E2Tech would like to thank everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, and exhibited at the 2017 Expo.

On November 16, the third annual E2TECH EXPO will be the premier environmental and energy event of the year, focused on innovation and business development! Investors and funders, policymakers, energy and environmental companies, and other innovation “enablers” are on tap to help attendees connect to what they need to grow and prosper – money, clients/customers, talent, public policy.

E2Tech Expo 2017 will engage private, public, and non-profit stakeholders to help any size company or organization access the resources they need to:

1. Promote their products, services, and technologies;
2. Accelerate their growth;
3. Compete in national and global markets;
4. Support a robust and innovative state environmental and energy market and workforce; and
5. Make Maine an innovation hub to start and grow a business.

Don't miss out on valuable networking and the chance to learn more about the critical resources available to the energy, environmental, and cleantech sectors.  Please visit http://www.e2tech.org/Expo2017 for registration, sponsorship, and agenda information.

Energy efficiency does more than cut waste, combat climate change, and save money. It employs 1.9 million Americans, by far the largest sector in the U.S. clean economy. E4TheFuture collaborates with industry stakeholders to provide expert policy solutions, education, and advocacy with a pragmatic focus. They develop and advocate for federal, state, and local policy strategies by leveraging the four “E’s”:

• Energy-Promoting clean, efficient, safe solutions
• Economy-Growing a prosperous, low-carbon economy for the 22^nd Century
• Equity-Empowering all Americans to run their homes with clean, affordable energy
• Environment-Restoring healthy air, water, and land

Stephen Cowell has dedicated his career to achieving a strong and prosperous U.S. clean energy economy. He is an entrepreneur who has founded and directed several energy efficiency and renewable energy organizations, including Conservation Services Group (CSG) in 1984. Under Cowell’s leadership, CSG designed and implemented conservation and renewable energy programs for utilities, state agencies, and other entities nationwide, ultimately providing services to more than 3.2 million businesses and households. He helped to create and build the residential energy efficiency industry through sound public policy, legislation, and establishment of trade ally networks as well as delivery of cost-effective programs. In September 2017, Steve was honored by the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC) with their Decade of Influence Award!

Please visit http://www.e2tech.org/Expo2017 for registration, sponsorship, and agenda information.

The Maine Technology Institute works with entrepreneurs, innovators, mature businesses, and institutions to move from the research and development phase to commercialization by providing funding, networking, and other opportunities. The Maine State Legislature established MTI in 1999 to support, promote, and stimulate technology research and development efforts leading to commercialization. Since MTI’s establishment, they have invested $180 million into 2,000 projects statewide while generating $900 million in matching private sector investments. They are currently accepting applications from Maine companies looking to invest in research and development equipment, infrastructure, and technology as part of a $45 million Maine Technology Asset Fund 2.0 (MTAF 2.0) program. E2Tech has funding for grant writing support, including for MTAF 2.0. Contact Jeff Marks, jeffmarks@e2tech.org, if you are interested. 

We greatly appreciate MTI's sponsorship of our Expo and continued support of E2Tech!

Please visit http://www.e2tech.org/Expo2017 for registration, sponsorship, and agenda information.

On the global level, 28 of the world's wealthiest investors simultaneously launched an initiative - the Breakthrough Energy Coalition - committing to investing billions of dollars in private sector capital in early-stage technologies relating to power generation and storage, transportation, industrial use, agriculture, and efficiency improvements. While this initiative presents an unprecedented opportunity to transport the way we generate, store, and use energy, Maine has more limited options.

Lynn Abramson from Washington, DC based Clean Energy Business Network will lead a conversation with MTI, Maine Accelerates Growth, UMaine, and CEI about what we can do in Maine to demonstrate leadership and support of the entrepreneurial spirit to develop next-generation technologies. Importance will be placed on how to best use public sector funding to leverage private sector investments in energy and environmental R&D. The role of the Federal and State governments in providing limited R&D dollars to startups in the energy and environmental sector will be discussed. Lastly, the speakers will deliberate on how can we develop private-public partnerships to harness the enormous potential to convert our natural resources to economic and business development opportunities.

Please visit for http://www.e2tech.org/Expo2017 registration, sponsorship, and agenda information. 

You don't want to miss out on our third annual E2Tech Talks! Speakers will present in a TED Talk-style format, providing a quick 7-minute discussion on their experiences, innovations, technologies, and challenges in making the world cleaner, smarter, and more productive and sustainable. E2Tech works hard to support Maine's energy and environmental businesses and we are excited to provide them with a platform to celebrate their successes.

• Phil Coupe - Managing Partner, ReVision Energy
• Bob Garver - Owner, Wicked Joe Organic Coffees
• Susan McKay - CEO, Cerahelix
• Jared Pinkham - COO, Grojo

Past companies featured in this popular panel include:

• David Markley - Co-Founder, Surge Hydro
• John Rooks - Co-Founder, President/CEO, Rapport
• Tony Wood - Founder/CEO, F.E. Wood Natural Energy
• Nadir Yildirim - President, Revolution Research
• Drake Bell - Exeter AgriEnergy/Agri-Cycle Energy
• Matt Jacobson - Executive Director, Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative
• Tony Kieffer - Managing Director, Arch Solar

Please visit http://www.e2tech.org/Expo2017 for registration, sponsorship, and agenda information.

Through the Maine Technology Asset Fund 2.0, the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is responsible for soliciting proposals from Maine companies and organizations looking to make investments in R&D equipment, infrastructure and technology upgrades to drive innovation in Maine. Applicants will participate in a competitive process and will need to show how the grant funding will help them gain and hold market share, increase revenues, and grow or preserve jobs for Maine people. Panelists will discuss the $50 million in funds available for investment, innovation, growth, and job creation.

Beyond MTAF 2.0, panelists will discuss other investment and funding resources in Maine for energy and environmental companies, non-profits, entrepreneurs, municipalities, and projects. They will also deliberate what investors are looking for in the energy and environmental sector. This will lead to thoughtful conversation on how to convert innovative ideas into cash for implementation.

Please visit http://www.e2tech.org/Expo2017 for registration, sponsorship, and agenda information.

Before they get stuck between the rock and the hard place, businesses need the right people on their team at all times. Whether a new entrepreneur, a small startup team, or a multi-national corporation, expertise in the following areas will help ensure success:

1. Accounting/Financial

2. Legal

3. Marketing

4. Product/Service/Technology

5. Talent/HR

6. Vision/Leadership

E2Tech Expo 2017 will have a session that brings service reps together to let attendees know how to find them (and others like them) and why you need them.

Please visit http://www.e2tech.org/Expo2017 for registration, sponsorship, and agenda information. 

While many politicians want to bring environmental and energy policy back to the Stone Age - or more specifically, the Coal Age - there is a case to be made for a new "Energy Innovation Policy" to encourage products and services to combat climate change, air and water pollution, and other environmental challenges. For example, alternative energy is an emerging sector of the Maine economy, made up of firms and organizations engaged in activities ranging from renewable energy production and generation to technology system distribution and installation to weatherization and efficient building construction and retrofits.

The growing demand for energy resources, technologies, products, and services, as well as global efforts to combat climate change, provide opportunities for Maine's knowledge, skills, and capabilities. Steve McGrath, Governor LePage’s new Energy Director; Maine State Representative Martin Grohman; NECEC President Peter Rothstein; Innovation Policyworks CEO Cathy Renault; and Portland Press Herald Energy Reporter Tux Turkel will discuss how we make this case to Maine's legislators and administrators to use public policy to grow R&D capacity, increase human capital, advance new technologies, open up new markets, and encourage enterprises to build on Maine's unique competitive assets.

Please visit http://www.e2tech.org/Expo2017 for registration, sponsorship, and agenda information.