By Sara Donnelly, Mainebiz Managing Editor

A Brunswick nonprofit yesterday released a report laying out a green energy plan it says can create more than 10,000 jobs and reduce Maine energy bills by more than $10 billion.

Opportunity Maine’s “Green Jobs, Green Savings” report details a 10-year plan that includes creating an “energy efficiency utility” that could administer bonds to support energy efficiency efforts in the state, according to the report. The report also calls on the state to raise its energy efficiency and renewable energy standards, streamline and expand existing efficiency programs, and invest state, federal and private funds in workforce development and R&D related to sustainable industries, among other suggestions.

April 22, 2009 Reported By: Tom Porter

The state of Maine could cut it energy bills by at least $10 billion and create over 10,000 jobs by the year 2020, if it embraces a bold new energy policy. That’s the gist of a new report released today – on Earth Day – by Opportunity Maine. The public interest, non-profit research group says a comprehensive economic, energy and work force development plan could also generate $300 million a year in market opportunities for Maine businesses.

“It is hard to focus on concern for the environment or climate change given the state of our economy, given the challenges we face here in Maine and nationally,” says Rob Brown, Executive Director of Opportunity Maine.

The report, he says, sets a goal for Maine to meet at least 30 percent of its energy needs through efficiency measures by 2020. “One of the ways that we can address those challenges is to address our energy crisis here in Maine. We have some of the highest and most volatile energy prices in the country. We are the most reliant on heating oil of any state in the country – 80% of our homes are reliant on heating oil – we have the oldest housing stock in the nation, we also have the lowest incomes in New England.”

Put all this together, he says, and it means Mainers are facing real challenges when it comes to meeting their energy costs and taking care of their families – never mind the environment.

This latest report, says Brown, takes a look across the nation, to see what lessons can be learned when it comes to establishing a viable green economy. One good example, he says, is the state of Oregon, where policymakers have achieved phenomenal growth in the green sector by creating a skilled workforce through apprenticeships.

There were also lessons on how not to build a green economy. Brown says a lot states experimented unsuccessfully with loan programs to try and encourage more investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Those programs, he says, have been shown not to work, as people and businesses at the moment are reluctant to add more debt. “We also have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity right now with the federal stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.”

Creating a bold energy policy for Maine, says Brown, is not just about weatherizing homes, although that is important – it’s about creating an economy that can sustain itself once the federal economic stimulus money has run out. “We cannot just simply rely on that. If we do, that’s an economic sugar rush and a subsequent crash. We need to plan for the long haul.”

Planning for the long haul is also what Bob Howe is advocating. He’s director of the Maine Association of Building Efficiency Professionals. “You know, the two-year shot in the arm of stimulus money is fine as far as it goes, but what’s really needed is a long-term plan by the Legislature, including financial incentives for homeowners and businesses.”

“I think down the road it would be a good program, but I don’t think it’s going to create jobs right off the bat, is what Maine needs right now,” says Bob St. Onge. The Augusta resident was among the building contractors attending the Opportunity Maine conference to see how he might benefit from the report’s proposals.

But, he says, it’s hard to think of the long-haul at the moment. “I think everybody’s on the same page as far they want to create jobs. It’s a projection that’s maybe three or four years down the road, and Maine’s hurting now.”

Gary Curtis from Newport has been looking for work since November when he lost his job as a sewing machine mechanic at a factory in Pittsfield. “I came down just to see what the opportunities were for me to make a living.” He hopes to benefit from the expected growth in green jobs. “I just got finished with the Maine State Housing home energy auditors course, finished last Friday. Hopefully I passed the test, I haven’t found out yet.”

The Legislature’s Joint Select Committee recently decided to effectively ditch three proposals dealing with Maine’s energy future, and write a new bill from scratch. Opportunity Maine hopes its latest report will provide examples and guidelines for those lawmakers as they craft new legislation.

BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — A nonprofit group that’s promoting sustainable economic development in Maine has come out with a plan it says could cut the state’s energy bills by at least $10 billion and create 10,000 jobs.

Portland-based Opportunity Maine told an Earth Day news conference in Brunswick that investments in a green economy also could create a $300 million a year marketing opportunity for Maine businesses.

The report calls for the state to meet at least 30 percent of its energy needs through efficiency by 2020. It also recommends that training and education be offered to potential candidates who could move into good jobs in the new energy sector.

By Tux Turkel

Maine could cut its energy bills by at least $10 billion and create 10,000 jobs over the next decade with a comprehensive economic, energy and work force development plan, an education and work force advocacy group said today. The plan also could generate $300 million a year in market opportunities for Maine businesses, the group said.

Details of the plan were contained in a report by Portland-based Opportunity Maine. It was released as part of an Earth Day news conference with supporters and business people in Brunswick.

The report looked at states that have succeeded, and failed, to lay a foundation for prospering in a green economy. The case studies are meant to provide examples for policy makers and legislators as they debate how to meet Maine’s energy needs. Crucial to the effort, the report said, will be using federal economic stimulus grants to help develop a work force that can take complement the development of green jobs.

Efficiency must be a major part of any plan, the report said. It said the state should set a goal of meeting 30 percent of its energy needs by 2020 through efficiency. Rechanneling some energy spending to develop a high-quality work force, including laid-off and low-income workers, should be part of the strategy.

Read the full report and background information on how energy policy is taking shape in Maine.

By Ron Bancroft

From time to time I get e-mails in response to a column with the question: “What can I do?” What, indeed, can we do as individual citizens? The answer, of course, is “Get involved.”

Attending a hearing in Augusta is not a bad place to start, although it would be best to do some homework before making the trip. You might start by contacting your state representative or state senator.

There are several ways one could do this. The easiest is to Google search “Maine Legislature,” which will get you to the Legislative Web site.

There you can click on either the House or the Senate, put in the first letter of your town and then scroll down alphabetically to your particular town.

In my case I scrolled down the C’s to Cumberland and found I am represented by Meredith Strang Burgess in the House and Gerald. M. Davis in the Senate. Clicking on these names gives me all sorts of information about contacting them, including their e-mail, phone numbers, committee assignments and often what bills they are interested in.

I recommend a call to their home phones in the evening. Legislators are generally very good about following up on constituent calls. If you don’t catch them, they will call you back.

When your legislator calls, introduce yourself and explain that you would like to be more aware of the issues being debated in Augusta. Get her or his view of what the hot-button issues are.

Just now the most controversial issue before the Legislature is the same-sex marriage bill. There is a hearing on this bill scheduled for the Augusta Civic Center on April 22.

Another issue your legislator may mention is tax reform, an area in which the most promising bill would lower Maine’s top income tax rate from 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent.

In addition, there are a raft of pending bills that address Maine’s long-term energy strategy. This is a hot topic this term in part because there are federal funds in the stimulus package available for the development of alternative energy sources.

To my mind, the most interesting proposal here is an 80-plus-page bill developed by Opportunity Maine, the creative nonprofit that developed the higher education tax credit.

The group has turned its attention to the great potential for a comprehensive weatherization program for Maine.

Their proposal (available at www.opportunitymaine.org) is daring, innovative, and costly in its initial investment stage, but pays big dividends in the long run.

For those of you interested in education, there are also several bills that are getting attention: new graduation standards (though not until 2016!), a long overdue Charter School proposal, and, of course, a bill to abolish the governor’s school consolidation law. This bill is a citizen initiative and likely to be on the ballot in November as a referendum question.

Hanging over all legislative deliberation is the sizeable and still-increasing budget deficit. Perhaps the most interesting hearings of all are those by the able and hard-working Appropriations Committee. It has the thankless task of trying to reconcile all of the competing budget requests with tax and fee revenues that continue to show weakness.

These are a few of the highlights of the Legislative calendar from my perspective. It will be interesting to get the perspective of your legislator.

Once you have these perspectives, I recommend picking an afternoon to spend in Augusta taking in a few hearings.

Democracy is messy and often boring. However, there are moments of real enlightenment. You might get lucky and catch one of those.

Beyond this introduction to the Legislature, there are lots of other ways to be involved, of course.

If you are interested in energy policy, for example, Opportunity Maine has developed a Facebook group to exchange information.

On the business and economic front, your local Chamber of Commerce is a good option for involvement.

For Southern Maine, the Portland Chamber offers many good public policy forums, including the popular monthly Eggs & Issues breakfasts.

For education, think about running for your local school board. Most school districts are eager for able, interested citizens to join the process.

Finally, of course, the ultimate way to participate is also the simplest — to vote in municipal, state and national elections.

If you do a little of what I suggest above, you are likely to be better informed in making local and legislative choices.

An informed electorate is our last, best hope for good Maine government.

WCSH, Channel 6

A group advocating energy efficiency released a report showing cutting back on energy consumption can save money while creating new jobs.

Brunswick Times Record: Staff Editorial

Here’s a bright side to our serious and deep economic recession: Both nationally and here in Maine, it’s spurring a sense of urgency about finally weaning ourselves from an addiction to oil. It also is encouraging a “green revolution” in the thinking of politicians, businesses and citizens alike — a realization that doing what’s right for our environment, in fact, is good for our economy.

Gov. John Baldacci’s visionary “Maine Energy Independence Act” — which calls for investments in renewable energy resources such as wind and tidal power, increased funding for weatherization and greater utilization of biomass electricity generation — is but one key step in the green revolution that’s gaining momentum in our state. Another is the “Green Jobs, Green Savings” legislation, LD 1181, sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, with 18 co-sponsors in the Maine Senate and 77 co-sponsors in the Maine House.

The bill, authored by Opportunity Maine, was among several pieces of legislation related to Maine’s energy security and independence reviewed Wednesday by the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Energy Future.

In explaining the purposes of the bill, Berry correctly underscores the leadership role state government must play if Maine’s economy is to become more energy-efficient and less prone to crises brought on by the volatility of oil prices.

“To make our economy more efficient, we must provide adequate, stable long-term funding and strong accountable oversight,” Berry said in a release announcing Wednesday’s public hearing for his bill. “Businesses, investors, future energy workers and homeowners will jump to it if they see a clear 10-year commitment from the state, with compelling incentives and standards.”

Specifically, LD 1181 would commit our state to making industrial facilities, commercial and residential buildings 30 percent more energy efficient within 10 years. Such “non-transportation” energy use accounts for 50 percent of all of Maine’s energy use — in dollars and cents, $1.5 billion of the $3 billion annually spent.

The “Green Jobs” bill would provide for free energy audits to all Maine homes; professional weatherization grants, financing and technical assistance; set “green” energy standards for new buildings and appliances; and provide specialized assistance to industrial, commercial and low-income sectors.

Money spent on improving energy efficiency has a two-fold benefit: 1.) It creates jobs for Mainers who will install the insulation, weatherize drafty older homes and help businesses use less energy by installing smart lighting, occupancy sensors and thermostats that optimize energy usage; 2.) It’s the quickest and most lucrative way to reduce CO2 emissions and our consumption of coal- and oil-powered energy.

Skeptical? Consider, then, the three-year $20 million investment to improve energy efficiency made by BP, the largest oil and gas producer and one of the largest gasoline retailers in the United States. The company ended up saving $650 million in fuel costs.

If an oil company finds wisdom — and profit — in investing in energy efficiency, that tells us something: We should, too.