Roux Institute, CEI, growth council get $1.3M to advance clean energy tech
The Governor’s Energy Office has awarded $1.3 million in grants to three Maine organizations to help them develop innovative clean energy businesses across the state.
The Roux Institute, a graduate education and research center in Portland and affiliated with Northeastern University, received $975,000. The institute will use the grant to work with the University of Maine, Startup Maine and other partners to develop a clean energy incubator program, and plans to host 40 individual cleantech startups in the first two years.
Coastal Enterprises Inc., a community development financial institution headquartered in Brunswick, was awarded $300,000 to develop a business advising program aimed at growing businesses that deliver home weatherization and energy efficiency services in rural and low-income communities.
The Central Maine Growth Council, an economic development agency in Waterville, was awarded $111,774 to expand its Dirigo Labs startup accelerator to provide hands-on startup coaching, advising, and research and development support for clean energy and cleantech startups.
The grants are through the Clean Energy Partnership, an energy workforce and business development initiative of the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan.
The program focuses on preparing Maine people for clean energy and energy efficiency jobs, supporting economic development and advancing innovation and technology in the sector to support Gov. Janet Mills' goal of having 30,000 clean energy jobs in Maine by 2030.
“Through these investments, Maine will continue to become a hub for entrepreneurs and professionals in these growing fields, in support of advancing Maine’s economy and meeting our goal of having 30,000 clean energy jobs in Maine by 2030,” said Dan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Energy Office.
The awardees will create clean energy business incubator and accelerator programs in four key energy sectors: buildings and energy efficiency, renewable electric power generation, grid modernization and energy storage, and natural resource industries.
"With funding from my Jobs Plan, Maine's clean energy businesses and entrepreneurs will receive support to help them grow, innovate, and thrive," said Mills.
"These investments will expand Maine's clean energy economy and further establish our state’s leadership in developing forward-looking technologies to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, strengthen our economy, and build a clean energy future for Maine people.”
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