UMaine Researchers Assess Impacts of Environmental and Energy Technology Sector
Contact: Todd Gabe (207) 581-3307; David Munson (207) 581-3777
ORONO, Maine — Researchers from UMaine’s newly formed School of Economics recently completed the first comprehensive report regarding the economic significance of Maine’s environmental and energy technology sector. Based on a survey completed in 2006 and statistics from government and industry sources, the report outlines a growing sector that includes nearly 700 Maine business and organizations.
Funded through a cluster enhancement award from the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) and conducted in cooperation with the Environmental and Energy Technology (E2Tech) Council of Maine, the study provides a clear definition of the sector, allowing
MTI and E2Tech to track its growth. From solid waste management companies to non-traditional energy start-ups, environmental and energy technology businesses and organizations directly generated $574 million in sales, supported 5,269 jobs and provided $222.8 million in employee earnings in 2006.
“This is a very diverse sector,” said UMaine School of Economics Associate Professor Todd Gabe, who co-authored the report with UMaine researcher Caroline Noblet. “There are over a dozen industry categories that make up the sector. It was a challenge simply to define what’s included in that group.”
Although businesses in the sector can be found throughout Maine, Cumberland and York Counties are home to a combined 45 percent of environmental and energy technology industry establishments. “Like the overall Maine economy, the sector is populated by lots of small businesses,” added Gabe. The study finds that over one-half of the establishments employ two or fewer workers.
With the first phase of the study already complete, Gabe and Noblet are finalizing their analysis of the 2006 survey results, which will provide additional data regarding operating conditions in the state for businesses in the sector.
“The survey gets at how members of this sector perceive the overall experience of doing business in Maine,” said Noblet. “We can use it to identify the advantages and the restraints that will have an effect on the future of the sector and its role in the Maine economy.”
According to the report, which is available from the authors, Maine ranked fourteenth nationally in 2004 according to the percentage of businesses in the state that are part of the environmental and energy technology sector.