My name is Edgelynn Venuti, I’m seventeen years old and I have been interning with Sierra Club for about two months. I was offered the position through the Maine Youth for Climate Justice coalition. I have lived in Robbinston for about three years now after moving here from suburban Connecticut. Before then, I enjoyed summering in Downeast and other areas of Maine for the past eight years. I have always been at home in nature, which is part of the reason I’ve been able to adjust so well and I really like it. Since moving here, my passion for the natural world has only grown and inspired me to fight for environmental justice in every way I can.
I’m writing to educate everyone on a very big step towards making our state a cleaner place for all. The Efficiency Maine Trust (The Trust) is the administrator of implementing and installing programs to help all Mainers use efficient, affordable energy and overall reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in Maine. Currently, one of their projects is the intent of submitting and passing the proposal to install and operate DC Fast Chargers for electric vehicles along “select corridors in northern and eastern Maine.” This includes heavy traffic areas like: “US Rt1. within 7 miles of the intersection of North Street and US Rt. 1 in Calais”, and “Rt. 9 within three miles of the intersection of Rt. 193 and Rt. 9 in Beddington.” There are many other locations as well along route 1, route 9 from Fort Kent to Machias.
Bidders can develop proposals “to install, maintain, and operate DCFC for a period of not less than ten (10) years. And the Trust anticipates offering a two-part financial incentive, as follows: 1. Up to 100% of the cost to purchase and install qualifying DCFC; and, 2. Reimbursement of actual utility demand charges for the first five years of continuous operation.”
The RFP (request for proposal) that was written up, is intended to be released before the end of November with more details on the solicitation. Questions regarding the upcoming RFP may be directed to ev@efficiencymaine.com. Once the RFP is released, all questions must be submitted in writing and follow the Q&A protocol as outlined in the RFP. [All quotes come from Efficiency Maine Notice of Intent]
Working with Sierra Club I’ve been able to help plan the restructuring of their Climate Action Teams and help them get started organizing in rural Maine. Sierra Club wants to offer a space for adults and young people alike to educate each other and take action, hopefully by holding events like community trash clean-ups, advocating for local environment protection, etc. Sierra Club is looking for willing and dedicated community members to facilitate the CAT meetings regularly. If you are interested and want to learn more you can contact Nyalat Biliew nyalat.biliew@sierraclub.org. Sierra Club is also looking for general volunteers and more information can be found maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.