The Faces of Maine’s Vibrant Clean Energy Economy

Jeff Cropley, Brewer ME

Jeff is a father of three, who until recently worked for the railroad in Northern Maine. After being laid off earlier this year, Jeff saw the Wind Power Technology Program at Northern Maine Community College as an excellent opportunity to get back on track and get involved in a relatively new industry as it emerges in Maine. Jeff has returned to school at NMCC in the same year that his daughter has entered college as a freshman at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor.

“Watching the news I saw all of the wind turbines going up across Maine and figured this was a good industry to get involved in. It’s very exciting to know that, as graduates of the Northern Maine Community College Wind Power Technology Program, we will be the first to earn degrees in wind power here in Maine and that we will be prepared to enter the workforce and make a difference. Our work will help reduce greenhouse gases and we will be part of leading the effort to move Maine forward.”

Lee Laundry, ReVision Energy

Lee grew up in Northern Aroostook County. His father designed and manufactured wood boilers, sparking his interest in renewable energy early on. After graduating from Bangor High School, Lee joined the Marine Corps, where he served with distinction for eight years. After returning home Lee worked in the transportation industry before eventually going into home heating business with his father. “I wanted to learn the trade from my Dad, help him get the business off the ground and help bring us closer together.” During the next ten years Lee went from Apprentice to Master Oil & Solid Fuel Technician. He started with ReVision in 2006 working to install gasifying wood boilers, before becoming part owner in 2008. Outside of work Lee enjoys hunting with his son and father; snowmobiling with his wife Barbara, spending time with his family and friends and motorcycling.

“Maine has a long tradition of using renewable energy—but we’re on the brink of a new chapter in using clean energy to reduce energy costs, decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, and reduce pollution. Companies like ReVision are poised to expand and put our expertise into place across Maine as we make that shift.”

Shane Duigan, Stantec

Shane Duigan is a project manager at Stantec in Topsham, Maine. As a forester and wetland scientist, Shane works on development projects that require natural resource identification, typically for permitting. In choosing his career path, Shane knew he wanted to work outdoors but never would have imagined when he was in school that the growth of renewable energy industry would help provide that work. He has worked on environmental assessment for wind project such as the Stetson Wind Farm in Washington County. Shane holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from the University of Maine and a master of forestry from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

“Working at the intersection of natural resource management and renewable project development has been a huge opportunity for me, and for Stantec. Wind power development has created a huge opportunity for Maine; it brings good jobs and generates clean energy. I’m proud to know that my work helps that development happen in an environmentally responsible way.”

Matt Damon, Penobscot Home Performance

Penobscot Home Performance serves the areas surrounding Bangor and Belfast and is a “one stop shop” for Home Performance. Partners Matt Damon and Paul Sheppard conduct energy evaluations and energy retrofits which are designed to make homes safer, more comfortable, healthier, and more energy efficient.

“We enjoy employing the tenets of building science to help Maine families lower their fuel bills and make their homes more comfortable. Our homes average a decrease of 25 to 70 percent in fuel consumption which means more money in Maine families’s pockets and more money in the local economy.”

Andy Doak, First Wind

Andy was born and raised in Maine, and graduated from Maritime Academy in 2004 with a B.S. Marine Engineering Technology. His work experience includes working in the engine room of off-shore drilling ships, as an engineer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and later at Bachmann Industries in Auburn, a manufacture of flue gas control systems for the fossil-fuel power generation industry worldwide.

“Without a doubt my Maine-based education has been the key reason I have the opportunity to work within the wind industry in Maine. Wind technology and marine technology share some of the same basic principles of operation and theory, so the transition has come natural for me. I am proud to see Maine taking on the role of becoming a top provider of clean wind energy—it’s personally exciting and fulfilling. As with any natural resource, Maine has the opportunity to harness wind energy and become one of the lead providers of clean power in the country. The wind industry will continue to grow, create Maine jobs, and provide clean energy to our grid.”

Jenifer Richards, WBRC Architects & Engineers

Jen is a LEED-certified designer and Director of the Interior Design Department at WBRC. Jenifer is actively involved with projects in the education, healthcare, civic, and commercial markets. Her responsibilities encompass all phases of a project from the initial conversation with a client through construction completion. Her portfolio includes design work for buildings at the University of Maine in Augusta and Orono, the Bass Building in Bangor, and the MDI Biological Lab. She holds degrees from the University of Maine-Augusta and Florida State University, and is currently the Vice Chair for the Maine chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

“I am so fortunate to be working in this state to help build green buildings. Our clients want buildings that are well-designed to be comfortable, healthy, aesthetic and energy-efficient. And it is our job to bring it all together. It is exciting that Maine has a growing number of green building professionals—but we have much more to do to build and renovate our way to a more efficient future in Maine.”

Parker Hadlock, Cianbro

Parker is the Business Development Director at Cianbro. In addition to the company’s involvement in constructing Maine’s first island wind farm on Vinalhaven, Cianbro is an active participant in Maine’s discussions about expanding renewables and energy infrastructure both on and offshore. Cianbro was responsible for the construction of the transmission line for TransCanada’s Kibby Wind Farm.

“Cianbro is pleased to be an active member of the Governor’s Ocean Energy Task Force, which is wrestling with many approaches to renewables, including new transmission regulations that will directly enhance all renewable generation sources. The advancement of renewables will reduce our dependency on unstable supplies of foreign oil, reduce global warming, and increase the vitality of our nation by creating excellent green jobs.”

Curry Caputo, Sustainable Structures

Sustainable Structures is a comprehensive energy-efficiency services corporation specializing in home performance evaluations, commercial energy auditing, energy-efficient retrofits, residential renovations, historic restoration projects and design/build services for new construction. They serve central and western Maine from Farmington to Belfast and Portland. Prior to joining Sustainable Structures, Curry worked as a builder for 10 years, and also worked as operations manager at the State Arboretum. Curry graduated from the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor.

“Sustainable Structures embraces a new paradigm in building and construction in Maine. We’re helping Mainers live safer, more comfortable and more efficiently at home, and are saving Maine and the world energy one house at a time!”

Scott Ackley, Whitneyville ME

Scott Ackley of Whitneyville worked for a number of years in Texas readying pipe for oil wells, before returning to Maine in recent years to work in the woods industry. A year ago, Scott decided to go back to school to get the education and training he needed to enter the emerging wind power industry. He was more than pleased to learn he would not have to leave Maine to get that education and training when he discovered that Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle had established the first Wind Power Technology Program in New England. Scott began as a full-time student at NMCC this fall. He plans to earn his degree in Wind Power Technology as a member of the first graduating class from the program in May of 2011.

“The Wind Power Technology Program here at NMCC is excellent. The instructors are top notch and the curriculum is cutting edge. I’m very interested in green energy and this program will allow me to begin work on the front lines of our state and national goals to dramatically increase the use of wind power. I actually feel patriotic in that I’m doing my part to help advance our country.”