Company seeks to increase options for renewable energy

Two Maine men have added a new company, Electricity Maine, to their roster of KEAN Engineering and KEAN Energy as a part of their entrepreneurial vision of renewable energy business development in the state. Kirk Nadeau founded KEAN Engineering in 2007 and was quickly joined by Peter Whitney. The two men had first met while working at another company. Nadeau says, "We work very well together."
For their businesses to develop successfully, a number of factors were necessary. Nadeau explains, "You need to surround yourself with people who are positive thinkers and who challenge you. Surround yourself with people who are brighter than you. When Peter and I got in business together, that was the first time that I did something that was challenged by everyone we knew, and it still worked." Their shared vision for developing business in their home state has given them the right dynamic to work in an energy industry "where barriers to entry are pretty high," Nadeau adds. Whitney notes dryly that during the development process of Electricity Maine they felt they'd "been thrown into the shark tank" more than once.
There is a logical progression to how Nadeau and Whitney have structured their three businesses. Nadeau explains how the engineering firm started. While working at a former company he noticed, "I couldn't find any engineers who wanted to travel, to get their hands dirty." Thus the idea for a field engineering firm was born. Whitney notes that while forming the company, "We definitely thought renewable energy." Following quickly on the heels of engineering was the development of KEAN Energy, with wind turbine projects in the research and development phase for Jonesport and Lubec.
The idea for Electricity Maine began soon after. "We started to look at how energy that would be produced in Jonesport could feed Mainers, so that when our customers decide they want renewable energy, we'll be able to supply them," says Nadeau.
There are many aggregators/brokers and suppliers of energy listed with the Maine Public Utilities Commission, a few of whom supply electricity to individuals and businesses as an option to replace the standard offer used by customers firms such as Bangor Hydro and Central Maine Power. However, Electricity Maine is the only completely Maine‑owned and Maine‑licensed supplier that is offering electricity to individuals and small businesses. Currently, Nadeau notes, the Bangor Hydro standard offer supplies electricity at a rate of $.0825 per kilowatt hour, while Electricity Maine offers a supply rate of $.0799/kWh, for an approximate savings of 3.15%.
"The individual savings add up to a substantial community benefit," says Nadeau. As an example, he notes that a community that has 2,000 homes, each with an average electricity supply bill of $50, would save about $37,800 a year on total supply costs. "As a result more money is left in the community for spending or savings."
The transmission portion of the bill is charged by Bangor Hydro or Central Maine Power. Currently Electricity Maine meets Maine's 32% renewable and efficient resources in its supply offer.
Doing the math, the individual homeowner might think that saving about $18.85 a year in electricity supply costs isn't worth the effort, but this calculation would be missing out on the big picture of developing businesses and communities in the state. Nadeau and Whitney are thinking about the long‑term benefits of developing renewable energy infrastructure in the state with Maine‑owned companies. Nadeau says, "I have two kids. I want them to know that there's plenty of opportunity right here. They're learning about renewable energy first hand. I really believe it will be kids who have that kind of exposure who will be solving the problems of the future."
Whitney explains, "It's very common to graduate from college and find it difficult to find work. It's certainly easier in southern Maine." But it was the idea of Downeast that stuck with them both. "There's a lot going on," says Whitney, who grew up in Washington County. The idea for both was to create jobs, not wait for them to happen. It wasn't just that there was great potential in the wind resources in his home county, says Whitney. "It was important for us to go the area, talk about renewable energy, jobs," he says. "I mean, Lubec is looking at two renewable energy developments: wind and tidal. There's excitement about it. ... It feels good to be talking development."
In 2010 KEAN Engineering hired Jeff Kubica to develop green building applications for commercial projects. Currently he is working on an energy reduction project for Verso Paper. The division offers a range of services including energy audits and energy upgrades; green building retrofits; new green building construction, planning and integration; and construction waste management and indoor‑air‑quality plans. Whitney says of the green building emphases, "It makes sense for our green energy and engineering interests. Right now it's a kind of commodity. Over time it will pay for itself, but it's really a long‑term vision." Another area the two men have been researching for about three years is animal waste to methane, which is not as easy as it sounds. "It's tough," says Nadeau. "You need to be able to guarantee your fuel source for investment, so we need a guarantee on the manure supply." He adds, "One thing that I've learned is things move slowly; you have to be patient."
Both men hope to kindle the entrepreneurial spirit in young men and women through their example. Whitney explains, "It takes a personal will. You may have to leave Maine and then come back to find what you need. Some may follow the money because of greed. Others will love being here and make it work. There is no 'too late' when you are an entrepreneur."
Nadeau says, "I would encourage anyone with an idea to reach out and talk to the Harold Closseys [executive director of Sunrise County Economic Council] of the world. When you talk to someone like Harold's group, they listen, encourage, give a good look at whether there would be a need. If there's no niche, it won't work. You need to be honest with yourself."
For more information about Electricity Maine, visit <www.electricityme.com>. KEAN Engineering's website is <www.keanengineering.com>.