By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — After a successful event last year, the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation will host a second alternative fuel/energy expo to showcase some of the latest technology to help people heat their homes and businesses.
Scheduled for the John A. Millar Civic Center this Saturday, this session is a followup to last year’s successful seven-week energy seminar series entitled “Are Alternative Fuels/Energy in My Future…” that SADC held to let southern Aroostook residents learn more about various energy sources available to lessen their rapidly escalating energy costs.
All the latest in pellet boilers, pellet stoves, solar panels, electric heat pumps, geo-thermal and wood boilers will be on display.
“It is our hope to lessen the hold that fossil fuel holds on Aroostook home owners and businesses,” explained Jon McLaughlin, executive director for SADC. “Most systems are designed to supplement, rather than totally take the place of fuel oil unless someone might be going to replace their heating system anyway.”
Guest speakers will include Bob Dorsey, CEO of Aroostook Partnerships for Progress – “Mobilize Northern Maine Energy Initiative”; Paul Libby, Hole in Your Bucket Energy Audits – “Efficiency Maine Programs”; and Machias Savings Bank and County Federal Credit Union – “Financing Your Energy Projects.”
At last year’s seminar, the group was touting wood heat in its various forms — cord wood, pellet or chips — because this source is sustainable and produced in The County and the money stays within the local economy. Since that time, however, other sources have become viable as well including propane, electric heat pumps, geo-thermal heat pumps, solar and more efficient oil systems.
“The Expo is a great way to showcase all of these systems in one easy location,” McLaughlin said. “To that end this expo is not a typical trade show in that, while some vendors may make sales at the show, selling of product is not the mission. The mission is to let folks learn about all the various systems prior to any attempt at investing in a heating system.”
There is no cost of admission for the expo, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be door prizes of 10 bags of pellets given out every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
For more information, call 521-0157.
