E2Tech has held some great forums over the past year. Below you can find some of our most influential events, on timely topics affecting Maine renewable energy, environmental & clean technology markets. 

1. Achieving Maine's Climate Policy Goals - Learning from the Clean Energy Transition in Other States 

Maine has ambitious climate policy goals, greenhouse gas reduction targets and clean energy transition plans. There are many action items underway within the State through the Maine Climate Council, the Maine Public Utilities Commission and other efforts. In this forum, E2Tech compared programs throughout the New England region and in New York, to determine how other states are tackling this challenge.

2. 131st Maine Legislature -- Energy & Environmental Preview

We heard from leaders in the 131st Maine Legislature on their priorities for the session. Which direction will energy policy, environmental legislation such as mining and PFAS, and other matters of urgent policy concern, develop through the legislative session? What are the goals of legislative leaders and policymakers on both sides of the aisle, and how do they mesh with industry concerns?

3. Is Storage in Storage?

Construction of battery energy storage is essential to efficiently reach our renewable energy goals.  It is a necessary compliment to capture energy that is otherwise lost due to the variability of renewable energy generation, and would help reduce the use of high carbon emitting peaker plants in the New England energy grid. In this forum we provide a high level understanding of the benefits of BESS, and an overview of latest policy effort updates in Maine. While also discussing the market drivers needed for BESS to operate, and identify the current market/technical impediments, and possible solutions.

4.Securing Northeast Forest Carbon

In this presentation, we cover the role of forests in climate change mitigation, how forests sequester and store carbon as they grow, and the growing financial markets - both regulatory and voluntary - that are now available to forest landowners to "sell" their secured forest carbon.

5. Inflation Reduction Act: Identifying Opportunities for Maine

The Inflation Reduction Act offers unprecedented opportunities for everything from municipalities selling tax credits for cash to incentives for clean hydrogen, and new ways to access solar incentives. Hear from two leading national players in this market on what plans Maine companies & municipalities should be making now to make the most of the new programs.

6. And a bonus sixth forum, Sludge: A Spreading Concern. Following the detection of PFAS in farmland soil, agricultural products, and groundwater, attention in Maine has focused increasingly on the once common practice of land spreading industrial and wastewater sludge as a soil amendment. This forum discussed implications of banning sludge spreading on landfills (and many of the predictions from this forum have turned out to be correct).

Many of these forums were recorded and can be accessed by members. You can find them here. And our program committee is always working on the next idea that will solve problems, inform policymakers, and help set the future and advance Maine’s environmental & energy economy. 

Any E2Tech member can join the program committee, and your suggestions are always welcome.