“We support this pilot because we believe that it will show that there are lower-cost ways to meet the same need that would be served by a new transmission line,” said Eric Bryant, counsel in the Public Advocate’s Office.

“The trust will be combing the Boothbay region for businesses that want to upgrade inefficient electrical equipment such as lights, ice makers, air conditioners and refrigerators. Efficiency investments have the potential to save energy and reduce stress on the grid at a cost less than building new transmission,” said Michael Stoddard, director of the Efficiency Maine Trust.

This pilot is the first of its kind in Maine and is designed to test the use of non-transmission alternatives as a way to bypass building an $18 million upgrade to a transmission line in the region. These alternatives can include energy efficiency, demand response — in which businesses turn off unnecessary equipment at times of peak use — and renewable and non-renewable generation.

“GridSolar is excited to test the availability and reliability of cheaper and cleaner options that will avoid the need to build a new transmission line on the Boothbay peninsula,” said Richard Silkman, a partner in GridSolar LLC.

The proposal is tied to the Maine Reliability Energy Initiative by Central Maine Power Co. to gain regulatory approval to upgrade its transmission system. This $1.4 billion project was started in 2010, and is due to be completed in 2015 creating thousands of jobs across the state.

The growing electricity demand in the midcoast area will result in the need to enhance the reliability of the transmission system to meet electricity demand during peak-use hours. The pilot will test if alternatives can provide grid reliability at a lower cost and with less environmental impact than building new transmission lines.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has determined the contract terms and directed three utilities to negotiate with Ocean Renewable Power Co.(ORPC) to put the company’s tidal power electricity onto the grid this summer. The company’s all-composite tidal turbines will be the first tidal project to be connected to the grid in Maine. The composite technology was developed in partnership with the University of Maine.

“This is the first long-term power purchase agreement for tidal energy in the United States,” said ORPC CEO Chris Sauer . He says the contract will cover a term of 20 years.

ORPC intends to install its first underwater turbine unit this summer in Cobscook Bay off Eastport. The first turbine unit will be capable powering 20 to 25 homes.

ORPC plans to install its full-scale tidal turbine unit at the same location over the next two years powering up more than 1,000 homes by 2016.

Today, the Maine Public Utilities Commission and 3Degrees, a leading renewable energy provider, announced Maine Green Power, a new, statewide green power program. This voluntary program gives Mainers the opportunity to purchase locally produced renewable energy.

“Maine has abundant hydro, wind, biomass and other renewable energy resources,” said Commission Chairman Thomas Welch. “Maine Green Power will enable our state’s residents and businesses to encourage further local development of these resources by choosing to power their homes and businesses with renewable energy generated in Maine.”

Residents and businesses that participate in Maine Green Power will be able to ensure that the electricity they use at their home or business is matched by electricity generated by solar, hydro, wind, biomass or other renewable energy projects located in Maine. The Maine Green Power program will be available to customers of Central Maine Power (CMP), Bangor Hydro Electric Company (BHE) and Maine Public Service Company (MPS).

Maine Green Power participants can choose the amount of renewable energy they want to purchase in the form of 500 kilowatt hour “blocks” – 500 kilowatt hours represents approximately the average amount of electricity used by a Maine household in a month.

The cost for each block will be $7.50 per month in addition to the cost of electricity supply, and residential customers will be able to purchase either 0.5, 1, 2, 3 or 4 blocks of renewable energy per month. Commercial customers will be able to participate in Maine Green Power starting at the $7.50 per 500 kilowatt-hour block. Customers signing up for Maine Green Power will continue to receive their electricity as they have in the past, with no interruption in their service.

Customers interested in participating in Maine Green Power can currently learn more about the program and pre-enroll by visiting the Maine Public Utility Commission’s website at http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/greenpower/.

First Wind announced that it has obtained $76 million in construction financing for its 34 megawatt (MW) Bull Hill Wind project in Hancock County, Maine. With financing in place, First Wind will start major construction activities on the project, which will have the capacity to generate enough clean energy to power about 18,000 homes.

“We are excited to complete the financing and start construction of the Bull Hill Wind project, which will be our fifth wind project in Maine to achieve commercial operations,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. “We appreciate the commitment of our financial partners, and we are grateful for the support the project has received from the businesses, citizens and political leadership of Hancock County along with our project partners across the state and the region. The Bull Hill Wind project will expand our capacity to generate clean, renewable energy in Maine to nearly 220 megawatts, and we are proud to boost the local economy during the construction as well as through the ongoing operations of the project.”

A subsidiary of First Wind closed a $70 million non-recourse construction loan and $6 million in letters of credit for the Bull Hill Wind project. Union Bank served as Administrative Agent and Project LC Issuing Bank. Additionally, an affiliate of Union Bank will provide long-term capital through sale-leaseback financing for the Bull Hill Project upon achievement of commercial operations.

The output of the Bull Hill Wind project will be sold to NSTAR under a long-term power purchase agreement, which was approved in August 2011. The Bull Hill Wind project received approval from the state’s Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC) in October 2011. Once complete, Eastbrook and the surrounding communities in Hancock County will receive an average aggregate tax payment of approximately $100,000 annually for the next 20 years and an additional $240,000 annually in community benefit payments—more than $7 million in total.

“As anyone in the timber business will tell you, we appreciate the diversity that wind power brings to long-term investors in timberlands,” said Jay Haynes, President of Lakeville Shores, the major landowner of the project site. “First Wind shares our company’s commitment to investing in Maine, and this project is going to represent a long-term economic contributor to the people and businesses of Hancock County and the surrounding region.”

Construction of the project will include the installation of 19 Vestas 1.8 MW wind turbines on Bull Hill and Heifer Hill ridges in Hancock County, Maine. During construction, the Bull Hill Wind project will create about 200 jobs and will provide significant revenue to the surrounding communities. Maine-based contractor Reed & Reed has commenced site preparation work and is hiring mostly Maine-based businesses and subcontractors to work on the project. The installation of the turbines is expected to take place during the summer of 2012, and the project is expected to be online and operating by the end of 2012.

“Our team is very pleased to be working on the Bull Hill Wind project,” said Jack Parker, President and CEO of Reed & Reed, the Woolwich, Maine general contractor for the project. “Having built all of First Wind’s Maine projects, we have seen the positive impact that this investment has had on the host communities, and in fact the entire Maine economy. Not only do these wind power projects create hundreds of jobs during construction, local businesses see a big boost to their bottom line. In addition to the clean energy wind projects generate, the community benefits after the projects are up and running are significant: from funding essential capital improvement projects and lowering Mainers’ property taxes, to helping Maine businesses expand and train their employees. Bull Hill is a project that will have a very lasting and positive impact on many Maine families.”

Bull Hill Wind will represent First Wind’s fifth operational project in Maine. First Wind has four other operational wind projects in Maine including the 42 MW Mars Hill Wind project in Aroostook County, which just marked its five-year anniversary of commercial operations, along with the 60 MW Rollins Wind project in Penobscot County and the 57 MW Stetson Wind and the 26 MW Stetson Wind II projects, both located in Washington County.

Combined, these facilities have capacity to generate 185 MW, enough to supply clean power to about 85,000 households. Over $125 million in direct spending has been invested into Maine-based companies during the development and construction of these four projects. First Wind has invested another $420 million in wind projects in Maine. The company’s four Maine projects are scheduled to make more than $40 million in tax payments to host communities over the next 30 years. First Wind has created jobs for over 1,000 workers during development and construction of its other Maine projects, in addition to over 40 continuous full-time jobs in the state since 2004.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organization, has begun powering its Augusta headquarters with solar energy. NRCM partnered with ReVision Energy, a leader in solar design, installation, and service in Northern New England, to install solar panels on the roof of NRCM’s headquarters in Augusta as part of an innovative agreement. The agreement called for ReVision Energy to install the panels, while NRCM will pay the company for the power generated from the system at a rate per kilowatt-hour that is two cents less than a normal electric bill.

“NRCM always tries to find new and exciting ways to celebrate Earth Day, but I think this year’s celebration takes the cake,” said Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director for NRCM. “The solar panels on our roof are making an immediate difference in our environment, as well as our electricity bills at NRCM. The innovative power purchase agreement with ReVision Energy has made this project a reality for us. It is enabling us to take significant steps forward in terms of clean energy, in a building where protecting Maine’s environment is a top priority.”

The Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been developed by ReVision Energy to allow nonprofit organizations to invest in solar energy. While federal tax incentives have made solar energy projects more affordable for homes and businesses, nonprofits are ineligible for those benefits, as are municipalities and schools. The PPA levels the playing field. ReVision Energy arranges the financing, installation, and management of the power output through the life of the agreement. The nonprofit pays its energy bills to the solar company. At the end of the agreement, the nonprofit has the option to renew the agreement, purchase the system outright, or return the equipment with no added expense.

“To most people, the most amazing fact about solar energy in Maine is its abundance in a state known for cold weather,” said ReVision Energy partner Phil Coupe. “In reality, Maine sees about 30% more sunshine per year than Germany, one of the world leaders in solar energy installations. Our solar resource is plentiful in Maine, and it is both environmentally friendly and cost effective for homes, businesses, and nonprofits.”

The 55-panel solar energy system installed at NRCM will produce 15,600 kilowatt hours of energy annually. The solar array will reduce more than 16,000 lbs. of carbon pollution each year, or roughly the equivalent of the amount of pollution generated by burning 20 tons of coal at a power plant.

Solar panels installed by the same company on the Hinkley School- the first nonprofit the company put the panels up on.

“For us, the benefits of this project come from a couple of different directions,” said Pohlmann. “Obviously, protecting our environment is the mission of our organization and its members, but we cannot ignore the economic benefits that go along with it. Money is tight for nonprofits, businesses, and homeowners these days. By freeing up tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the project, NRCM will be able to invest those funds to do more to protect, restore, and conserve Maine’s environment. That is a substantial benefit of making this switch, and one that could be realized by any nonprofit, business, or homeowner in Maine.”

The system went online last month and is expected to save the nonprofit more than $32,000 over the life of the project. NRCM displayed the solar array during a media event Friday morning, and held an Earth Day celebration and talk at their facility called “Going Solar.” Earth Day is observed on April 22.

“Mainers should not wait until next winter to fix their homes,” said Richard Burbank, owner of Evergreen Home Performance in Rockland. “High heating oil process and a cold winter next heating season could devastate homeowners in Maine. Now is the time to weatherize.”

Burbank was taking part in a press conference that highlighted Efficiency Maine’s new loan program, PowerSaver, which offers a 4.99 percent rate for weatherization projects that meet energy efficiency standards.

“Now is the time to plan ahead,” said Efficiency Maine’s Executive Director Michael Stoddard. “Just within this past decade the cost of heating fuel has gone up by 300 percent.”

Stoddard and other weatherization contractors joined federal Department of Housing and Urban Development official Michael Freedberg to announce PowerSaver. In the program weatherization projects must meet a minimum energy-saving threshold of 20 percent. Borrowers must have enough home equity to cover the loan amount and terms are up to 20 years.

“Maine has been a leader in weatherization efforts,” said Freedberg.

That’s why the state was chosen as one of the first states to launch PowerSaver. It is also why Maine was chosen to help launch the federal backed PACE weatherization loan program in 2010.

PowerSaver is a spin off of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan program, which is also run by the independent trust Efficiency Maine, set up during the Baldacci administration. The American Recovery Act invested $20 million in Maine’s PACE program in 2010. PACE loans are taken out by homeowners working with their town. They are known as the “revolving loan” and can be transferred to new owners if the property is sold. Power Saver loans will use some of the ARA funds and be available to many more people.

The Dudley's weatherized their home with a PACE loan and expect to save thirty percent in their heating bills

The Power Saver program provides loans of up to 25-thousand dollars, and it’s available to all homeowners in Maine who meet their credit requirements.

Figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show Maine residents slashed their heating oil use by 45 percent between 2004 and 2009. However Maine remains more dependent on heating oil than any other state in the nation, causing a drain on the economy and on household and business budgets. According to the latest U.S. Census data, about 70 percent of households still heat by oil — that figure is down from 80 percent in 2000.

Power Saver will pay for insulating, tightening up homes, upgrades to heating systems and other steps to make houses warmer and more energy efficient.

The loan programs are mostly available for whole-house weatherization that includes air sealing and heavy insulation which can cut heat use by 40 to 50 percent.

Homeowners Rob and Amy Dudley weatherized their home in 2011 with Evergreen. Before they took out a PACE loan their baby Clara had to wear a snowsuit inside. One morning they noticed their dog’s water dish had ice on top. That’s when the Dudley’s decided to weatherize.

“We wanted to make sure we brought in professionals who could do it right and to preserve the house for future owners,” said Rob.

The home was fully insulated. Dense-packed cellulose was blown into the wall cavities, and the foundation wall was covered with spray-foam insulation. With a projected annual savings of more than $1,700, it should take less than ten years for the Dudleys to recoup their investment.

More about other Efficiency Maine energy programs for the home:

PACE: Under the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, homeowners pursuing eligible energy improvements can borrow up to $15,000 at 4.99 percent with no closing costs. The loans have a term of up to 15 years and are transferable upon the sale of a property. The PACE program must be authorized in each municipality before homeowners can apply for a loan. More than 100 Maine municipalities have already adopted the program.

Solar Thermal Program: Efficiency Maine’s Solar Thermal Energy Incentive Program offers 25 percent of the cost of installing a residential or commercial solar air and water heating system, up to a maximum of $1,000. Participants can earn an additional $500 rebate if they spend at least $2,000 on additional energy-efficiency upgrades

For more about Efficiency Maine go to: http://www.efficiencymaine.com.

“The University of Maine has long recognized its leadership role in promoting and actively pursuing environmental stewardship,” said University of Maine President Paul Ferguson. “At UMaine, going green is not just a philosophy, but a way of life, from our four LEED-certified buildings to our Green Campus Initiative.”

The University of Maine, “has made a commitment to avoid sprawl, restore local habitats, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040,” the Princeton profile wrote. “UM’s new student orientation includes sustainability programming, and Eco Reps in residence halls coordinate recycling programs and lead other environmental initiatives. UM recycles over 500 tons of paper products per year, and every office and classroom has at least one paper-recycling bin. All new buildings on campus must meet LEED Silver standards, and existing buildings are going green – two are already outfitted with residential – scale solar thermal systems.”

Created by the Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges is the only free, comprehensive guidebook profiling institutions of higher education that demonstrate a notable commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. The Princeton Review chose the schools for this guide based on a survey of administrators at nearly 800 colleges in the U.S. and Canada about their school’s sustainability initiatives.

Released April 17, days prior to the April 22 celebration of the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, the guide has profiles of the colleges that provide application information plus facts, stats and write-ups reporting on the schools’ environmentally related policies, practices and academic offerings.

UMaine’s energy-saving efforts also were recognized in Princeton’s Green Guide in 2010 and 2011.

The Princeton Review’s Honor Roll profile of UMaine cites initiatives such as the university’s longstanding green and blue bicycle program for faculty, staff, students and members of the public visiting campus, the Black Bear Express shuttle bus between campus and downtown Orono, UMaine’s full-time sustainability coordinator and a sustainability council made up of students, faculty and staff.

In addition to UMaine, six other Maine institutions are included in the guide. They are Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, College of the Atlantic, Unity College and the University of Maine at Farmington.