ISSUE  19—              IN THIS ISSUE:

UPDATES—    

Photos of the DNC convention

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Gov. John E. Baldacci—  discusses the economy and how green energy technologies, innovative projects, and building electrical transmission lines will create jobs.

 Congressman Tom Allen— speaks out about the issues

Anna Goodale—  Olympian on her love for Maine, and her win

Congressman Mike Michaud— talks about his three major projects where he has made a big difference for ME

  MAINE ECONOMIC NEWS—

Governor's conference: Regional leaders meet for economic development 

RGGI- takes the lead and holds its first cap and trade auction

Governor Baldacci- on ME’s economic future and more

MAINE'S INNOVATIVE ECONOMY—

State Award—  $30 Million from bond initiative awarded to innovative projects

Proposed energy project—                   2 Billion Wiscasset tidal power

MAINE INITIATIVES—

Keeping citizens safe and secure this winter— Ways to save energy

Maine’s Wood to Energy Initiative Report— says forests sustainable and wood pellets available

MAINE COMMUNITY NEWS—

Democrats Work— Community service organization

MAINE VOICES—

Economy — Green color innovative jobs are the future with Obama

Health — Loosing DirigoChoice’s funding could put 18,000 people’s lives at risk

Katie  Ouilette  From Republican county chair to running for ME’s state house- as a Democrat

ELETION NEWS— 

ME at the DNC convention

Obama’s speech inspires

Students, make a huge difference in this historic election

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Not authorized by any candidate, candidate’s committee, or the Maine Democratic Party

Saw dust, which can be transformed into wood pellets, being moved at a paper mill

Article and Photos by Ramona du Houx

Governor Baldacci received the final report of the Governor’s Task Force on Wood to Energy. The 28-member task force met 15 times over eight months to produce the set of comprehensive recommendations to move Maine towards more reliance on wood energy and away from fossil fuels.

"As a state, Maine is the most dependent on oil for heat. A full 80 percent of Maine homes are heated with oil, using 400 million gallons of number 2 heating oil a year," said Governor Baldacci. "We are also the most forested state. Our challenges are great, but so are the opportunities to become energy independent and secure, using in part our abundant wood resources."

Some industry members have been concerned about the availability of wood sources to continue to suit the growing uses of wood.

"Our wood stocks are strong," said Commissioner Patrick McGowan of the Department of Conservation. "Heating with wood pellets is sensible, economical, and it builds on Maine’s strengths."

The Wood-to-Energy Task Force report is a critical piece of the Governor’s long-range goal to end Maine’s oil dependency.

"In the long term, we must be more aggressive in building our energy future together — a future that is built upon clean, renewable, home-grown energy sources," said Baldacci. "Our starting point is assessing the wealth of natural resources we have at our disposal. We must be mindful of traditional uses of these resources and of their supply. We must find a win-win solution that enables Maine’s saw and pulp and paper mills to have access to the wood they need, while augmenting the supplies available for wood energy. The work the University of Maine is doing to develop bio-refinery technology to add and improve the return from pulp and paper mills is an example of how we can be smart about this, increasing energy supplies, while making our traditional industries more profitable."

The chair of the task force, Les Otten, said, "There is a high demand for wood as an energy source. We have plenty of wood pellets with three Maine producers. It’s good for the state’s economy, keeping funds in Maine, saving Mainers money, so they can spend it here in Maine, as well."

With the price of oil, many Mainers have already installed wood pellet stoves. In Europe they are a norm in many countries.

"There are plenty of wood pellets being manufactured in the state to meet demands here," said George Soffron, CEO of Cornith Wood Pellets and task force member. "Recently there has been a rush on pellets, with people stocking up for the entire winter, so orders for most companies were backed up. But that would be the same if there was a rush to buy oil. The supply is there, and we will be producing pellets throughout the winter. There is no need for people to worry."

For more information about the Wood-to-Energy Task Force, please visit the Department of Conservation Web site: http://www.maine.gov/doc/initiatives/woodtoenergy/task_force.html

Photos of the DNC convention