October 29 | Environment & Energy Updates

Landry/French Construction has an upcoming evening panel on 11/6 about  women in architecture featuring E2Tech board member, Ellen Belknap, senior architect of SMRT, and others. Panelists will discuss their successes and journeys in male dominated fields and share their unique experiences. The event is November 6 at the Portland Sheraton. To register and learn more, click here. Efficiency Maine’s Hospitality Retrofits Program will finance HVAC projects in qualifying restaurants and motels, inns & B&Bs with <50 rooms. The program offers higher incentives than typically provided under programs, with the intent to accelerate the conversion to high-efficiency electric HVAC systems in this sector. Applications due no later than 11/30. Yesterday two companies have won the rights to develop floating offshore wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine. The federal government's first-ever wind energy lease sale in our region netted about $22 million for four parcels. Connecticut-based Avangrid Renewables submitted winning bids of $4.9 million and $6.2 million for two parcels about 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. Invenergy NE Offshore Wind won an area more than 46 miles off the Maine coast for $4.9 million and another off Cape Cod for $5.8 million. Only half of the parcels officials put up for sale were bid on during Tuesday's auction.  In 2022, developers had bid $4.37 billion on six lease areas off New York and another $757 million on a five-parcel sale in California. Orange Bike Brewing, founded last year by Tom Ruff, won a silver medal for its Oktoberfest and a bronze for its Pilsner at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival.  Located in Portland's Bayside Neighborhood, Orange Bike hosted a ClimateWork Maine event earlier this year and also a Clean Transportation event. The brewery and pub is across the street from the offices of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.