Consider the Lobster and Electricity: Helping Meet the Energy Challenges of Maine’s Small Islands

Posted 2016-11-28

Stephen C. Walls / Energy Transition Initiative / Energy.gov

Most island communities do not have economies of scale or local fossil fuel resources, two key factors contributing to significant increases in energy costs relative to mainland peers. A case in point is two islands located off the coast of Maine—Isle au Haut and Monhegan, both of which are currently weighing their energy futures. The Energy Department and EERE are helping to address those challenges through the Energy Transition Initiative (ETI), which provides technical assistance and resources to support communities that want to achieve clean energy goals and in the transition to a clean energy economy.

With the Island Institute, ETI is examining how clean energy solutions could support the sustainability goals of these two island communities.