Twenty-nine years of professional dedication to Maine’s environment have taught Erika Morgan to expect some sighing, sneering and snickering.
With the urgency of a child pleading for a glass of water in the middle of a fitful night’s sleep, Morgan explains two possible outcomes if the Pine Tree State stays on its current ecological path.

1. Our annual climate would match that of Richmond, Va. (“So,” you interrupt, “you think that’s a bad thing?”)

2. The hastening of a second Ice Age.

She hears the pause. Expects it. Has heard it a million times.

The average listener can’t or won’t accept that incremental changes in mean temperature, possibly wrought by pollution and other environmental hazards, may drastically affect Maine’s quality of life one year or two generations or three centuries from now.

So Morgan, program manager for the Maine Green Power Connection, a Brunswick-based organization that celebrated its one-year anniversary this month, politely reverses direction and picks up the conversation in a language that hits closer to home.

As in, do you enjoy breathing?

“Even people who don’t know why they should support something like green power tend to agree that Maine has a serious air quality problem,” Morgan said.

Medical evidence is staggering. Citing a study by the Asthma Regional Council of New England, Morgan says that more than 120,000 adults and 28,000 children in Maine suffer from asthma or advanced lung disease.

That’s more than 10 percent of the population, the highest rate in America.

Current hopes

Morgan’s voice in the wilderness suddenly sounds a mite more mainstream. Accustomed to paddling against the current, she’s satisfied with small victories.

“We’re trying to change the world one electric customer at a time,” Morgan said.

As of Monday morning, Maine Green Power Connection’s roll call included 1,551 customers.

In the organization’s first year, those people purchased more than 30 million kilowatt hours of electricity from “green” energy sources, including solar, wind and water. Those are naturally replenishing alternatives that result in cleaner air and water.

How much cleaner? Morgan is glad you asked. Had those 30 million hours been generated by standard power sources, the amount of carbon dioxide, acidic nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide sent into the atmosphere would be the pollution equivalent of 3,000 cars on state highways, according to Morgan.

Take a deep breath if you can.

The Maine Green Power Connection hopes for a customer base of 5,000 by the end of next year, with a goal of 2 percent of Maine’s electricity emanating from green sources by December 2006.

Purchasing “green” electricity ensures that your contribution to the power grid is generated from clean, renewable resources. Consumers pay through supply (per kilowatt-hour) or certificate options. Most of the customers getting in on the green ground floor are businesses and schools.

Unity College became the first Maine school to purchase all its energy through green power.

“It’s renewable, very low emission, comes 100 percent from Maine and it didn’t break the bank,” said Unity College president David Glenn-Lewin.

Others may switch

According to Roger Jolin, the school’s vice president for finance, Unity spends about $100,000 per year on electricity.

Also donning the green jersey in 2003-04 were York Hospital, American Lung Association of Maine, Maine Audubon and the Maine Council of Churches, leading a group of 61 businesses and organizations.

Maine Green Power reserves its strongest sales pitch for businesses. They’re not only the largest consumers of energy but serve a clientele with a growing environmental conscience.

Morgan said that several Maine colleges and universities are contemplating at least a partial switch to green power.

“I don’t want to scoop them, but we know they’re out there,” Morgan said. “They hear about this from students, faculty and donors who recognize this as a good thing.”

Individual electrical customers might shy away from green power, which is slightly more expensive than standard electric rates.

Thanks to the electricity restructuring law that went into effect in March 2000, however, customers may choose the type of electricity they wish to purchase. That’s the change that opened the door to green power in the first place. And Morgan said there are plans and package deals that could allow private citizens to partially support the green movement while not increasing their electrical budget.

Web users can find a full menu of services and more about the benefits of green power at www.MaineGreenPower.org.

Larger businesses are invited to call Maine Green Power for additional guidance in choosing service that will fit their budget and corporate mission.

One year into the group’s life, Morgan sees Maine Green Power living out its philosophy of giving this state of majestic, natural beauty a breath of fresh air.

“My work,” Morgan said, “is letting people know they can be part of the solution.”

Kalle Oakes is staff columnist. He may be reached by e-mail at koakes@sunjournal.com.

Copy the Story Link