National Clean Energy Report Unveiled, UMaine’s Efforts Praised, Media Report
The Bangor Daily News, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, WABI (Channel 5) and WVII (Channel 7) reported Pew Charitable Trusts hosted an event and panel discussion at the University of Maine and unveiled the findings of its report “Clean Economy Rising.” The nonprofit found Maine is one of eight states leading the way in developing clean energy economies. Tom Swanson, manager of Pew’s clean energy initiative, said Pew took interest in UMaine’s efforts to expand the state’s wind energy to the Gulf of Maine with the deployment of VolturnUS, the first offshore floating wind turbine to be connected to an electric grid in the United States. Swanson added Pew heard many references to UMaine when researching energy initiatives in other states. The university helped companies across the nation with product testing and development in many forms, he said. “We were really impressed with the breadth of what the university is undertaking,” Swanson said. While at UMaine, Swanson toured the Advanced Structures and Composites Center and the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute, the BDN reported.