Maine Renewable Energy Association

Maine Renewable Energy Association
Name	Maine Renewable Energy Association
Formation	1977
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Augusta, Maine
Region served	Maine
Leader title	Executive Director

Maine Renewable Energy Association is a statewide nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting renewable energy technologies, sustainable energy policy, and workforce development in Maine. Founded in 1977, the association connects installers, manufacturers, policymakers, educators, and community leaders to accelerate adoption of solar power, wind power, energy storage, and other clean energy solutions across the state. It operates through programs, advocacy, training, and public events that link local initiatives to regional and national efforts.

History

The organization was established in 1977 amid energy debates following the 1973 oil crisis, aligning with early activists from groups such as the Sierra Club, Audubon Society chapters, and state environmental coalitions around Augusta, Maine. In the 1980s the association partnered with institutions like the University of Maine and Maine Maritime Academy to pilot demonstration projects in solar thermal and small-scale wind turbine installations. During the 1990s it engaged with federal programs administered by the Department of Energy and collaborated with regional networks including the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management and the New England Clean Energy Council. In the 2000s the association helped shape state initiatives responding to laws such as Renewable Portfolio Standard policies and coordinated with utilities like Central Maine Power and Versant Power. Recent decades have seen alliances with organizations including GRID Alternatives, NREL, Acadia Center, Maine Climate Council, and the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

Mission and Objectives

The association’s mission emphasizes accelerating deployment of renewable energy technologies, expanding the skilled renewable energy workforce, and fostering equitable access to clean energy across communities including coastal towns like Bar Harbor and rural counties such as Aroostook County. Objectives include influencing rulemaking at agencies such as the Maine Public Utilities Commission, promoting standards used by bodies like the American National Standards Institute and Underwriters Laboratories, and supporting projects funded through programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program and Clean Energy Fund initiatives. The organization also aims to integrate research from entities including Maine Cooperative Extension, Jackson Laboratory, and Colby College into practical deployment strategies.

Programs and Services

Programs cover technical training, certification preparation for credentials recognized by groups such as the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners and International Code Council, and apprenticeship pathways in partnership with vocational centers like Central Maine Community College and York County Community College. Services include project matchmaking for municipal solar arrays in towns like Kittery and community wind feasibility studies for coastal communities near Kennebunkport and islands like Mount Desert Island. The association administers grant-writing assistance aligned with federal offerings from the US Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program and state incentives tied to the Maine Governor's Energy Office. It curates technical resources referencing research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and University of New Hampshire.

Advocacy and Policy Work

Advocacy efforts focus on state legislative sessions at the Maine Legislature, regulatory proceedings at the Maine Public Utilities Commission, and regional coordination with the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference. The association has submitted testimony on bills related to net metering, interconnection standards, and community solar modeled after policies in states like Vermont and New York. It builds coalitions with organizations such as Maine Audubon, Conservation Law Foundation, Environment Maine, and industry groups like the Solar Energy Industries Association to influence procurement by utilities including CMP and Emera Maine. The association also participates in federal rulemaking processes involving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and liaises with congressional delegations from offices like those of Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises contractors, installers, manufacturers, educators, utilities, municipal officials, and nonprofit partners drawn from places such as Portland, Maine, Bangor, Maine, Lewiston, Maine, and Belfast, Maine. Governance is typically by a volunteer board including representatives from firms, academic institutions, and advocacy organizations, with committees on technical standards, workforce development, and policy. Partners and sponsors have included regional developers, member companies listed with the Better Business Bureau, training providers such as Northern Maine Community College, and foundations like the Maine Community Foundation. The association engages with national networks including the American Council on Renewable Energy and the National Association of State Energy Officials.

Events and Education

The association organizes an annual conference that draws attendees from across New England and features speakers from organizations such as NREL, DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Solar Energy Industries Association, and academic presenters from Bowdoin College and Bates College. It runs workshops on topics ranging from photovoltaic design and battery storage to permitting and interconnection with contributions from consultants, utility engineers, and regulators from entities like the National Grid and the ISO New England. Educational outreach includes K–12 programming in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, summer internships with research groups at the University of Southern Maine, and webinars with technical partners such as SMA Solar Technology and Tesla Energy representatives.

Impact and Recognition

The association has been credited with contributing to growth in residential and commercial solar capacity across counties including Cumberland County and Penobscot County, workforce placements in trades tied to renewable installations, and policy advances for community solar and interconnection improvements. It has received acknowledgments from organizations like the Maine Climate Council and citations in reports by the Acadia Center and ISO New England. Collaborations with municipal programs in towns such as Orono and Waterville have led to pilot projects showcased at conferences hosted by NELSAM and Clean Energy States Alliance, and awards from state trade associations and regional clean energy competitions.

Category:Energy in Maine Category:Non-profit organizations based in Maine