Staff Writer
CARIBOU — With Aroostook County emerging as a leader in alternative energy technology education, a complimentary “green” program is in the works at the Northern Maine Development Commission to help local businesses reap the cost savings that come with being energy efficient.
The program, E3: Economy, Energy and Environment, could be under way as soon as June, as discussed by Executive Board of Directors during their last meeting on March 10.
As discussed by the board, E3 is a model for collaboration among manufacturers, utilities, local government and federal resources intended to invest in local communities, address energy and sustainability challenges, provide valuable technical training and assessments and enable economic growth.
“It’s a new program, a consortium of five federal agencies [Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration] that looks to offer resources to help manufacturers become more productive and efficient, particularly looking at green jobs and green energy,” said NMDC Executive Director Robert Clark.
According to Clark, the program has a job creation component to it but focuses more particularly on training existing employees in waste reduction.
Should the project take hold, and NMDC officials are currently sowing the E3 seeds to ensure that it does, Aroostook County would lead New England with participation in the program.
Also during the March 10 meeting, members of the board received an update on the Aroostook/Washington County Local Workforce Investment program, as it’s officially been under NMDC’s umbrella for a year. (Prior to being managed through NMDC, but program was overseen by the Aroostook County Commissioners). Director of Workforce Development Ryan Pelletier presented board members with an overview of the program, including accomplishments during 2010 and goals for 2011.
The NMDC Executive Board if Directors is scheduled to meet again in April.
