Joe Brown, a student at the University of Maine School of Law, will be working at E2Tech this summer as an intern. The opportunity was provided in conjunction with the University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center, part of the University of Maine System.

Upon graduation, he plans on using his law degree in an interdisciplinary setting, pursuing a career in either energy and environmental law, land use, or business law.

Joe’s prior experience includes working in the City of Portland Treasury Department, and the City of South Portland Planning and Development office. Joe also has a B.S. in Economics from the University of New Hampshire. E2Tech members may hear from him as he reaches out to our membership to update contact information as well as learn about key member initiatives where we may be of service.

If he is not working or studying you can find him camping, skiing, or traveling.

Great coverage of E2Tech's STEM Careers for Students Series

https://energynews.us/2020/05/27/northeast/maine-clean-energy-program-introduces-kids-to-big-concepts-and-possibilities/

To our valued clients, vendors, partners and friends:   It is with great pleasure that today we announce the completion of St.Germain’s acquisition of MAI Environmental, a South Portland, Maine-based environmental consulting and field-testing services firm founded in 2000 by Maine licensed geologist John Marchewka. Over its 20 years in business, MAI Environmental earned a reputation for delivering solutions for complex environmental and geological projects throughout Maine and New England.   This acquisition expands St.Germain’s environmental investigation, remediation, and site redevelopment services and, as a result, MAI Environmental clients will have access to a full suite of environmental consulting, civil engineering and environmental, health and safety (EHS) compliance services. Clients can expect “business as usual” while also benefiting from the combined resources and expertise of a single, full-service provider.   So, what does this mean? Other than a few new faces, you will see no change to your day to day experience with St.Germain. MAI Environmental’s two employees, John Marchewka and Paul Prescott, have joined our environmental services team and will continue serving their clients without disruption. Moving forward, what you will see are significant benefits in the following areas: Additional expertise in environmental investigation, remediation, and site redevelopment Increased capacity to deliver responsive, dedicated client service Increased efficiency and convenience of a single, full-service provider for your needs   We welcome you to take this opportunity to learn more about John, Paul, and the rest of the St.Germain team.  THANK YOU for your trust and your continued business.   Over the next several weeks, you may hear from us again to check in or provide additional information. I appreciate your candor and welcome you to reach out to me personally with any questions.   Sincerely, Mark St.Germain, President Office: 207.591.7000   Cell: 207.415.1000 marks@stgermain.com

Visit Our Page at www.stgermain.com

FinalE2TechRelease-USGBC.pdf

Former EPA regional administrator to lead the CEC's Joint Public Advisory Committee

Robert W. Varney will assume the chairmanship of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s advisory body for 2020 Montreal, 6 January 2020—Considered one of the most experienced and respected environmental leaders in North America, Robert W. Varney will chair the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s (CEC) Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) for 2020. Mr. Varney is a former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England regional administrator and is currently president of Normandeau Associates, a science-based environmental firm with thirteen offices in 10 states.   Varney will chair the CEC’s advisory committee next year as it holds public consultations in the three countries on pressing environmental matters of regional interest, including the CEC’s forthcoming new Strategic Plan. Following its public consultations, JPAC provides advice to the CEC Council, made up of North America’s top environmental officials. JPAC is composed of fifteen citizen volunteers (five from each country) and advises the Council on any matter within the scope of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation.   “With a new trade agreement among Canada, Mexico and the United States headed towards ratification and a new Strategic Plan for the CEC on the horizon, JPAC looks forward to engaging with the public in 2020 to ensure cooperation on the environment between our three countries is as strong and effective as ever,” said Varney.    The JPAC Chair is elected for a one-year term and by rotation from among the three countries' members. JPAC meets throughout the year in different locations throughout North America, typically in conjunction with CEC events.   Varney’s past experience includes chairing the national organization of state environmental agency heads (Environmental Council of the States), as well as the State/EPA Superfund Policy Forum and Federal Ozone Transport Commission (OTC). He was also a member of EPA’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council and served on the New Hampshire Board of Trustees for The Nature Conservancy. Current chairman of the state chapter of the Environmental Business Council of New England, Varney was recently reappointed by New Hampshire's governor to serve on the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. Varney is the recipient of numerous environmental awards, such as the EPA Lifetime Achievement Award, the John H. Chafee Award of the New England Water Works Association, the Paul Keough Award of the Environmental Business Council of New England, and the ECOS Founder’s Award.   For more information about the CEC's Joint Public Advisory Committee, visit www.cec.org/jpac.

ORPC Represented at United Nations Climate Change Conference

Chilean Nongovernmental Organization Introducing ORPC’s Sustainable Energy Solution

Portland, Maine, December 11, 2019 – Ocean Renewable Power Company, Inc. (ORPC), announced today that Chilean nongovernmental organization, NRGizar, dedicated to the development of community-scale renewable energy, particularly marine renewable energy, in remote regions of southern and central Chile, is representing ORPC at the United Nations (U.N.) Climate Change Conference COP 25. The foremost global forum for multilateral discussion of climate change matters, COP 25 is in progress and will conclude on December 13 in Madrid, Spain.

Selected as a nonprofit observer for the conference, NRGizar, represents private companies and engineers, geophysicists and oceanographers in central and southern Chile dedicated to providing professional development opportunities at no charge to young people in remote regions of Chile. NRGizar founder, Sergio Andrade, and ORPC business development consultant for Chile, will present at COP 25 on “Energy dignity in rural areas,” on December 12 and 13, and NRGizar will be an exhibitor at the conference on December 13.

“We embrace ORPC and its proven river and tidal power systems as a means to strengthen rural Chile’s resilience to the increasing effects of climate change, and to provide energy hope and dignity to our rural communities and young people,” said Mr. Andrade.

ORPC President, John Ferland, remarked, “NRGizar’s work in Chile perfectly aligns with ORPC’s efforts to serve remote markets globally and provide clean, affordable energy while ensuring positive, local economic results. We are most concerned with remote communities and facilities in Canada, Chile and the U.S. that have no access to regional power grids, rely solely on diesel or other fossil fuel to power their homes and are experiencing the first, most significant effects of climate change.”

ORPC launched its first commercial product, the RivGen® Power System, in July in the remote village of Igiugig, Alaska, where the system was installed and is now operating in the nearby Kvichak River. The company plans to install a second RivGen device, along with smart microgrid controls and electronics, and an energy storage system, over the next 18 months, creating a sustainable energy solution that ORPC estimates will reduce the community’s diesel fuel use by 90 percent.

ORPC, whose mission is to improve people’s lives and their environment through sustainable energy solutions, is the only company to have built, operated and delivered power to a utility grid from a tidal energy project (in Maine), and to a remote community grid from a river energy project (in Alaska). ORPC remains committed to its founding principle of working collaboratively with all stakeholders and local contractors to create economic development opportunities. In addition to its Portland, Maine, company headquarters, ORPC has offices in Montreal (ORPC Canada) and Dublin (ORPC Ireland), an operations center in Eastport, Maine, and a project office in Anchorage, Alaska. For more information, visit www.orpc.co.

On Wednesday September 17, 2019, E2Tech’s Adelaide Taylor attended the 2019 Mainebiz Women to Watch Reception, honoring Betsy Biemann (CEO, Coastal Enterprises Inc.), Mary Allen Lindemann (Co-founder, Coffee By Design), Liz Cotter Schlax (President and CEO, United Way of Greater Portland), and Kim Swan (President, The Swan Agency Sotheby’s International Realty).

Adelaide Taylor, Project Administrator

To this day, often unconsciously, women are often under-represented and overlooked in positions of power within companies throughout the world. Ruth Bader Ginsburg best represented this when in 2017 she is quoted as saying “There will be enough women on the Supreme Court when there are nine”. 11 years ago Mainebiz created a yearly reception to honor Maine’s leading women executives, recognizing the tireless work they perform strengthening their organizations, and Maine’s economy. All four 2019 honorees credited the support from their families as well as their peers and superiors throughout their careers which led them to determinedly endeavor to do more and led them to their current success. “We look forward to a day where we no longer have to single out women, and can simply celebrate Maine’s people to watch” Betsy Biemann said in her acceptance speech.

2019 Honorees: Mary Allen Lindemann, Betsy Biemann, Kim Swan, Liz Cotter Schlax

The evening was an overwhelming success filling the space at Halo at the Point in Portland with great networking and much laughter. Congratulations to all four 2019 honorees!

People from different fields were encouraged to connect at the summer gathering on an Old Port rooftop.

BY AMY PARADYSZ

The Environmental & Energy Technology of Council of Maine, better known as E2Tech, lucked out with a perfect evening for a summer social July 24 on the fifth-story rooftop of Old Port consulting firm Burns & McDonnell, a member of the council.

“E2Tech is the leader in the state bringing together engineers, attorneys and people working in these fields who are all interested in making Maine a better place,” said longtime member Joshua Rosen, a Maine Law student. “It’s a great opportunity to learn and to network.”

Martin Grohman, who came on board as the nonprofit’s executive director this past Earth Day, April 22, shuffled a pocketful of business cards he collected at the social, finding just the right connection for various members as they stopped to chat with him.

“We do not want all the scientists in a corner talking with other scientists. We want business people talking with scientists and salespeople, and economic investors,” Grohman said. “We want to see clean technology investment in Maine, and that’s what it takes.”

E2Tech has 1,500 members with interests in sustainable, renewable and clean energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal, as well as everything from cleaner sewer systems to electric vehicles. Board members come from organizations such as Efficiency Maine, ReVision Energy, Sunrun, Tyler Technologies and Ocean Renewable Power Company.

“There’s a lot of innovation happening on the environmental and energy fronts,” said Juliet Browne, an energy and environmental lawyer with Verrill Dana, the event sponsor.

“We, the people here and around us, continue to endeavor to find a better way, a cleaner way to do business,” said Andrew McMullin of host firm Burns & McDonnell.

“And it’s kind of fun going to these things,” said John Robinson of RE/MAX commercial brokerage.

Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and photographer based in Scarborough. She can be reached at amyparadysz@gmail.com.

https://www.pressherald.com/2019/08/11/society-notebook-e2tech-facilitates-sociability-in-the-name-of-sustainability/

10 leaders for Maine’s economic future

Maine faces a well-publicized demographic challenge: the population isn’t growing, and it’s getting older. Yet Maine’s economy has grown through a dedicated core of leaders, just a few of whom are highlighted here. There are others who have had an impact and others waiting in the wings, but here are 10 people making an impact on Maine’s economy right now and for the foreseeable future.

Betsy Biemann: CEO, Coastal Enterprises Inc.

PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY

Betsy Biemann

A Harvard graduate who started her career as a Rotary fellow in Kenya, Biemann has helped CEI make a seamless transition after the retirement of its founder. The nonprofit has provided more than $31 million in financing to 148 small businesses in the past two years alone and stoked economic development in Maine’s rural areas.

 

Yellow Light Breen: President and CEO, Maine Development Foundation

PHOTO / MAINE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

Yellow Light Breen

Grew up in northern Maine, where his parents were back-to-landers. Now, after a banking career at Bangor Savings Bank, he serves as president and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation, influencing the state’s economic policy.

Joshua Broder: CEO, Tilson

PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY

Joshua Broder

In the past decade, Broder has built up a company that puts up cell towers and equipment. He’s hired hundreds of employees. He’s a veteran and makes it a point to hire veterans. The company is in a new headquarters in Portland and continues to grow.

Fred Forsley: Founder, Shipyard Brewing Co.

PHOTO / SHIPYARD BREWING

Fred Forsley

If there was a dictionary definition of “beer-entrepreneur,” there’d be a picture of Forsley. He started Shipyard Brewing Co. in what was then a run-down neighborhood in Portland. He built a successful beer company, but he also started Sea Dog Brewing, chain of brewpubs, and bought up a lot of property around Shipyard. Now, he’s a partner in what will be Portland’s first “brewtel,” a hotel with a beer theme. Despite a literal beer-truckload of competition, Shipyard continues to be Maine’s No. 1 beer, by production.

Marty Grohman: Executive Director, E2 Tech

PHOTO / E2TECH

Marty Grohman

Grohman built and sold a company that made deck boards out of recycled materials. He served in the Maine Legislature for two terms. He ran, unsuccessfully, for the U.S. House, District 1, seat in Maine. Now he’s running a nonprofit that touts innovation and environmental causes, but also sells out its regular forums.

Steve Mills: CEO, Maine Beer Co.

PHOTO / MAINE BEER CO.

Steve Mills

Mills didn’t build the Maine Beer brand or convince its fans to stand out in winter weather waiting for new issues of the beer. But he was brought in with the founders acknowledged they couldn’t take the company to the next level. Meantime, Maine Beer continues to grow, both in output and physically, with its Freeport HQ growing ever-larger.

 

Beth Shissler, Don Oakes: President, CEO, Sea Bags LLC

PHOTOS / SEA BAGS

Beth Shissler and Don Oakes

Sea Bags had been around since 1999, but it took Shissler’s vision of what the tote bag maker could be to make it a recognized brand. Inc. Magazine ran a story titled, “This company turns tons of old sails into tons of cash.” Now, with Shissler’s brand sense and Oakes’ marketing expertise from years at L.L.Bean, the company has 25 stores in resort towns from Maine to Florida.

Melissa Smith: CEO, WEX Inc.

PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY

Melissa Smith

She’s helped build a public company with $1.5 billion in annual sales. More than that is the impact she’s had on Maine, moving the corporate headquarters to Portland’s East End and showcasing the city as a hub for finance and bringing with her 400 employees. Now Covetrus, Maine’s largest public company, is building its headquarters a block away.

 

Brian Whitney: President, Maine Technology Institute

PHOTO / MAINE TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

Brian Whitney

Under Whitney, MTI has been at the center of the funding hub for the state’s entrepreneurs, using matching grants to foster independence and growth. Whitney has also been able to balance the needs of the entrepreneurial community with the demands of Augusta.

 

Updated: July 29, 2019 

https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/10-leaders-for-maines-economic-future

The Environmental and Energy Technology Council of Maine (“E2Tech”) has hired entrepreneur and former State Representative Marty Grohman of Biddeford as its new Executive Director.

E2Tech is known for its nonpartisan forums on current environmental and energy issues, bringing together a variety of voices on issues critical to the future of Maine, and is the preeminent organization of its type in the region.

Grohman said, “I’m pleased and honored to join E2Tech in a leadership role. I’ve been a longtime member and supporter. The organization plays a critical role in Maine’s economy and continues to grow strongly. Because of my mix of formal training as a Chemical Engineer and experience running a Maine composites and recycling company; as Director of Sustainability for a multinational manufacturer; and then as a State Representative, I have long seen the connection between smart energy and environmental policy and the future of Maine.”

E2Tech Board Chair Tom Eschner, of TRC Companies, said: “I am looking forward to seeing Marty, with his industry and public policy skills and experience, build on the excellent work of prior Executive Director Melissa Winne, who has been steering the organization through an important time of transition over the past year.  With Marty’s leadership and E2Tech’s strong Board of Directors, the organization will be well-positioned to take on issues of environment and energy in Maine today and into the future.”