By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Officials will be on hand at an energy efficiency forum on Thursday to share their expertise with leaders of the public and private sectors on programs available to them.
“Efficiency Maine’s regional stakeholder forum will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center. This forum will seek to assemble state and local leaders in both the public and private sectors to facilitate education and awareness around Efficiency Maine’s business and residential energy efficiency programs,” said Rod Thompson, center director, certified business counselor, Maine SBDC at NMDC, located in Caribou.
Thompson said Efficiency Maine is looking for feedback on ways to enhance the state’s business climate.
“Efficiency Maine is looking to solicit ideas from the community on ways it can continue to improve Maine’s business climate through its programs in the region by encouraging businesses to take advantage of its programs,” said Thompson.
The organization has a number of ways to assist entrepreneurs.
“Efficiency Maine offers cash incentives, commercial grants, small business loans, solar and wind rebates, and incentives and low-interest financing for home energy improvements,” he said.
Thompson said there is a considerable amount of assistance — monetary and otherwise — available to those who qualify.
“Eligible businesses may now receive total incentives — combined prescriptive and custom — of up to $300,000 in a single calendar year period. That’s on top of the reduced operating expenses that energy-efficient equipment offers every year,” said Thompson.
Thompson noted that Efficiency Maine has calculated fixed or “prescriptive incentives” for certain types of equipment that generate consistent savings over a wide range of applications, including:
• Lighting;
• HVAC equipment;
• NEMA Premium energy-efficient motors;
• Variable-speed motor drives;
• Commercial refrigeration; and
• Agricultural equipment.
