Monhegan Island celebrates completion of multi-year clean energy initiative for community, art museum

Posted August 25, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under Press Release.

MONHEGAN ISLAND, ME — On Monday, August 21st, state and federal representatives, island leaders, and community partners joined the Monhegan community at a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of a comprehensive upgrade to the island’s energy systems. The culmination of countless hours of hard work, the project enables the community-owned Monhegan Plantation Power District to power the island with cleaner burning diesel-fired microturbines and a solar array, improving reliability and safety of service on the island.

Maine islands are getting energized about the transition to clean energy

Posted August 21, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under Blog.

Mainers pay some of the highest energy costs in the nation, with costs being especially high on Maine’s islands. Learn how Maine communities are developing creative approaches to address these costs and reduce reliance on expensive and polluting fuels through community-based clean energy initiatives.

Experts discuss clean energy solutions for Maine’s Islands

Posted August 3, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under In the news.

Maine island communities pay some of the highest energy costs in the nation, but they are also leading the way in transitioning to clean energy systems. Learn more during the talk, “Island Energy: Transitioning to a Cleaner Future,” August 9.

Island Institute recognizes energy innovator, community champion at 7th Annual Island Energy Conference

Posted May 3, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under Press Release.

SOUTH PORTLAND, ME – The Island Institute kicked off its seventh annual Island Energy Conference in South Portland today by recognizing two groups for their work as energy leaders and champions for Maine’s island communities. The Island Energy Innovation Award was presented to the Monhegan Plantation Power District for recent upgrades made to the island’s power station which will create cleaner emissions and incorporate renewable energy into the island grid, and the board and staff of the Swan’s Island Electric Cooperative received the Island Institute Community Champion Award for their work in securing a pathway for affordable electric power for the people of Swan’s Island and Frenchboro.

Island Institute recognizes energy innovation at annual conference

Posted May 3, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under In the news.

Rockland-based Island Institute kicked off its seventh annual Island Energy Conference in South Portland on April 28 by recognizing two groups for their work as energy leaders and champions for Maine’s island communities. The Island Energy Innovation Award was presented to the Monhegan Plantation Power District for recent upgrades made to the island’s power station which will create cleaner emissions and incorporate renewable energy into the island grid, and the board and staff of the Swan’s Island Electric Cooperative received the Island Institute Community Champion Award for their work in securing a pathway for affordable electric power for the people of Swan’s Island and Frenchboro.

Conference will focus on advancing energy systems on islands

Posted April 24, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under In the news.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and energy officials from islands throughout New England will highlight a Portland-area conference this week.
The Island Institute, a nonprofit based in Rockland, will host its annual Island Energy Conference on April 27-28.
The keynote speaker will be Tetsunari Iida, executive director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies. Collins will offer the welcoming address.

Island Institute energy conference set for April 27-28

Posted April 21, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under In the news.

By Staff / Village Soup
The Island Institute will hold its annual energy conference at Congregation Bet Ha’am, 81 Westbrook St., South Portland April 27 and 28.
The event will bring together 150 island leaders and energy experts from three countries – the United States, Japan and Denmark – and six states – Maine, Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island – to discuss common energy challenges and the resources available to address them.

Island Institute publishes ‘deep dive’ into coastal, island economies

Posted March 15, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under In the news.

The Island Institute has published its first deep-dive comparison of the economic, community and environmental indicators for Maine’s coastal and island communities with the rest of the state and nation.
The first edition of “Waypoints: Community Indicators for Maine’s Coast and Islands” is intended to be a resource for local community members, state and federal representatives, agency staff and research partners whose work relates to and impacts coastal communities.

Island Institute publishes first edition of “Waypoints: Community Indicators for Maine’s Coast and Islands” – with summary analysis and detailed data on 120 communities

Posted March 13, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under Press Release.

ROCKLAND, ME – The Island Institute released today the first edition of Waypoints: Community Indicators for Maine’s Coast and Islands. The publication presents economic, community and environmental indicators for Maine’s coastal and island communities as they compare to the rest of the state and the nation.

Island life is hard enough without Maine regulators opposing deals to lower electricity costs

Posted February 2, 2017 by Neil Arnold & filed under In the news.

On Jan. 18, the Maine Public Utilities Commission made a decision that raises critical questions about how rural communities across the state receive and pay for electricity.
In a 2-1 vote, the commission denied Emera Maine’s request to acquire the Swan’s Island Electric Cooperative, a deal that would have provided more affordable electricity service to the Swan’s Island and Frenchboro communities.