A little moth, a lot of love

Posted November 6, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

On Vinalhaven in 2012, something started eating the trees. Leaves on the south end of the island were desiccated, and the culprit was the newly arrived, invasive winter moth. Science teacher Amy Palmer decided that the best Vinalhaven residents to take on the pest were her students. Over the next few months, Amy and a small group of students worked after school to monitor, document, and manage the moths.

Lessons from Samsø, a year later

Posted October 15, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

How to translate lessons from an island in Denmark back to Maine? After a year spent implementing energy efficiency efforts here on Peaks, five learnings have helped Sam Saltonstall stay focused on island energy work.

Announcing the Aquaculture Cohort

Posted October 6, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

Aquaculture in Maine—primarily mussels, oysters, and kelp—has huge economic potential. The area covered by all of Maine’s current aquaculture leases could fit inside Rockland harbor, but don’t let the small size fool you: it is a growing industry and the established producers can’t keep up with demand. Maine’s cold, clean, waters can produce a superior product, and when combined with the Maine “brand,” sales are ready to expand throughout the Northeast and beyond.

Update: Vinalhaven CEAT

Posted September 15, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

The Vinalhaven Energy Club seeks to improve energy and resource efficiency for residents of the Fox Islands. Energy education and awareness are essential if we are to maintain affordable, warm, and well lit homes and buildings. We have helped promote energy efficient projects such as utilizing smart grid technology, encouraging use of electrical thermal storage units, weatherizing, and installing interior storm windows. Our members are Bill Alcorn, Patrick Trainor, Naill Conlan, Karol Kucinski, and Del Webster.

Update: Peaks Island CEAT

Posted September 15, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

Peaks is one of a number of Maine islands to have formed Community Energy Action Teams with financial support from the EPA through the Island Institute. Our team has named itself the Peaks Energy Action Club (PEAC), and looks forward to addressing some of the energy challenges identified here on Peaks Island. Our mission is to provide informational resources to our community about energy efficiency and renewable energy options. The Island Institute has provided us with educational materials and state-of-the-art tools to help us investigate local energy projects of our own choosing.

Monhegan CEAT Uses Classroom Education to Make a Real-World Impact

Posted September 8, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

The Monhegan Community Energy Action Team (CEAT) was created to serve a simple purpose: help people in the community lower the cost and environmental impact of their energy use through education about energy efficiency and conservation, and renewable energy.

From school basement to sunny yard: starting a garden on Frenchboro

Posted September 8, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

Island Fellow Luke Milardo worked with the Frenchboro school students to start a garden under grow lights this spring, then shared the seedlings with the whole community.

Update: East Casco Bay CEAT

Posted August 25, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

An update on the work going on with the East Casco Bay Community Energy Action Team (CEAT), one of five teams pioneering intergenerational education and leadership around energy issues in seven year-round island communities in Maine.

Update: Islesboro CEAT

Posted August 25, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

We formed the Islesboro Community Energy Action Team back in January, 2015. Our team consists of CJ, a senior in high school and our cartoon artist extraordinaire; Tres, also a teenager, homeschooler and an expert seaman; Kendra, our fantastic Island Institute Fellow; and the two wise elders, Paula Mirk and Toby Martin. Islesboro is the long (it used to be called “Long Island”) narrow island just below Verona Island at the mouth of the Penobscot River. We have a year-round population of less than 1,000, and a summer population of more than 2,000.

Welcome from the Community Energy Team

Posted August 24, 2015 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

The Island Institute’s Community Energy Program supports island communities in reducing their energy costs and increasing the reliability and sustainability of island electricity and heating infrastructure.