April 16: Environmental & Energy Updates

Special E2Tech Series in April

Because of developments in Washington DC, E2Tech is hosting two special webinars to discuss impacts and also responses by Maine-based businesses and institutions. We had our part 1 of the series on April 10, which had 115 registrants and participation from many Maine businesses, government employees, educators, and the media. To read a small summary of the discussion, Laurie Shrieber from Maine Biz details here.

We will be holding our part 2 of the series on April 24. The panel will be moderated by E2Tech Board Member Dale Knapp of Walden Renewables and feature speakers from Preti Flaherty and Longroad Energy.

Upcoming Events  2025 Environmental Conference

April 17 in Portland— All day Learn tools, resources, and strategies for getting to net zeo! Hear from experts in the field, including Dan Burgess, who will be giving information on Maine’s energy plan. (Sign up here) Climate Innovation Chat with Dr. Deb Chachra April 18 in Portland—12:00-1:30 PM Come to a Climate Incubator Series event at the Roux Institute (and virtual) featuring Dr. Deb Chachra, Professor of Engineering at Olin College and author of “How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems that Shape our World.” Dr. Chachra will share insights from her book around infrastructural design and technology. (Sign up here).

Maine Passenger Rail Summit

April 23 in Waterville— All day Speakers, panelists and moderators from Central Maine Growth Council, Mid-Coast Council of Governments, Downeast Scenic Railroad, Conway Scenic Railroad, Moosehead Lake Railroad, Sierra Club, and NRCM, plus video comments from former Senator Mitchell who was responsible for creating the Downeaster service to Boston. E2Tech's Eric Howard is moderating a morning panel on Environmental Impacts & Benefits. (Sign up here). Young Professionals Network Evening

April 30 in Portland-4:00-6:00 PM Join us for an after work evening of networking at Bunker Brewing Co! Now that spring has arrived, we are lookinfg forward to making new connections and meaningful relationships. Food will be provided and drinks are for purchase. While the event is geared towards young professionals, all are welcome and encouraged to attend! (sign up here). 3rd Annual ClimateWork Maine Summit

May 8 in Augusta — All day

This annual summit connects hundreds of industry experts, thought leaders, and passionate individuals like yourself, all committed to finding innovative solutions. It’s a day filled with informative sessions and engaging discussions that focus on actionable climate solutions so you can make a real difference in your community and your business. Whether you are a business owner looking to adopt sustainable practices or an advocate for change in your local area, this summit will equip you with the tools you need to drive climate action effectively. (sign up here).   

Other Local and Organizational Updates:

ND Paper Local Developments

The ND Paper Rumford, Maine paper mill during its annual outage in May will be undergoing a major rebuild of the R15 paper machine. This is a comprehensive transformation including the installation of a size press, additional calendar, and automated controls upgrade. Since 2018 under ND ownership, this machine has undergone a complete transformation - from the wet end to the winder. Nicknamed Project Flutie, this project will allow for the flagship machine in Maine to produce even higher end printing and writing grades with better quality along with bleached kraft and liner. 

For those interested in learning more about the transformation, please visit www.us.ndpaper.com to discover opportunities with the company! Employee Recruiting / Internships:

The ReMaine  program has expanded to cover more hours and provide higher subsidies on wages. As in past two years, E2Tech is again helping our members secure early-career employees. ReMaine covers all of the administrative tasks for having interns/temporary employees and pays for about half of their salary. Businesses, agencies, organizations and municipalities from around the state have participated. Funded through GEO, the 8-12 weeks can start at any time. Details available online (E2Tech website) or call us at 207-800-TECH.

Membership Update

Last summer we upgraded our contact management system, including our system for sending out membership invoices. All dues-paying members are now in four cohorts, with each group being invoiced on or around the first of each fiscal quarter.  The membership notices for the Spring Cohort have been sent out April 8  via email to scores of individual and institutional members.  

We thank all of our partners and members for their financial support, be it dues, a sustainer-level contribution, or a sponsorship of an event or program. We do our best to make sure that each member receives their membership renewal information. Sometimes emails go lost: they to spam, get sent to a former employee’s dead email, etc.  If that happens, we apologize.  

If you have a question about membership - your personal status or that of your employer - or would like to become a member, donor, or sponsor of an event or program, please reach out to us at info@E2Tech.org or 207-800-TECH (8324).