Walking along the fishermen’s co-op dock, Sam Belknap says it is a model for what the Maine coast must do to build resilience in the face of climate change. “This is the type of investment all wharves need to be making,” he explained. Belknap is director of coastal economy for the Island Institute of Rockland, a nonprofit organization that has been helping coastal areas with economic and community development for the past 40 years.
Category: In the news
The US’s Easternmost City Could Be a Model for the Country’s Renewable Future
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
In 2021, the city of Eastport, with support from Island Institute, was awarded an Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project grant from the Department of Energy with , which funded work to develop localized energy generation and storage.
Now, a community-driven initiative is developing solar and tidal power to feed a microgrid. It would allow the island community to weather hours of outages, detached from the main electrical grid without the high costs and carbon footprint of diesel. The grant launched the feasibility studies and produced the plans for the transition that Eastport is in the middle of building out.
Working waterfronts discuss storm recovery progress with legislators
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
Nine months after damaging storms in January heavily impacted Maine’s coastal communities, recovery is still top of mind. The issue is being put back at the forefront for state legislators. In Bremen on Tuesday, Island Institute hosted a roundtable between leaders from Maine’s working waterfronts, Sen. Angus King, and Rep. Chellie Pingree.
5 Maine communities selected for federal energy transitions initiative
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
Five Maine communities have been selected for a federal program designed to support energy transitions in rural coastal and island communities. Brooklin, Chebeague Island, Cranberry Isles, Passamaquoddy Tribe at the Pleasant Point Reservation and Washington County will get technical and planning assistance to make their energy systems more resilient.
Island Institute gets $1.4M for program to aid Maine’s lobstering industry
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
The Island Institute in Rockland has received $1.4 million to support Maine’s lobstering industry through a new initiative. The funding comes from the Small Business Administration as congressionally-directed funding and was championed by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King…
Island Institute marks 25 Years of Fellows Program
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
Published by National Fisherman on August 27, 2024. Island Institute proudly celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Fellows Program on August 8th at the Rockport Opera House. The event brought together a vibrant assembly of past, current, and incoming Fellows, advisors, community members, and supporters. All gathered to honor a program that has profoundly shaped… Read more »
Electrifying the fleet: Biddeford company takes aim at converting commercial vessels to electric
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
Published by MaineBiz on May 27, 2024. Maine Electric Boat has installed more than a dozen electric propulsion systems on sailboats and powerboats since the company was formed five years ago. With an eye toward the future, the Biddeford-based company is now taking aim at a new market: commercial work vessels. That sector — lobster… Read more »
Coffee with the Casco Baykeeper and Island Institute
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
Scientists and working groups weigh in on all aspects of climate change, from heat waves to soaring pollen counts to sea level rise, to help the Maine Climate Council set new goals for the second installment of Maine Won’t Wait, the state’s climate action plan.
Maine Broadband Access Part 1: History and Infrastructure
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
Scientists and working groups weigh in on all aspects of climate change, from heat waves to soaring pollen counts to sea level rise, to help the Maine Climate Council set new goals for the second installment of Maine Won’t Wait, the state’s climate action plan.
Tales from the Sea Podcast – Working Waterfront
Posted by Laura England & filed under In the news.
Scientists and working groups weigh in on all aspects of climate change, from heat waves to soaring pollen counts to sea level rise, to help the Maine Climate Council set new goals for the second installment of Maine Won’t Wait, the state’s climate action plan.
