All were pleasantly surprised when David Morse of Maine Public Broadcasting Network announced that MPBN was prepared to sponsor the Midcoast Green Collaborative Expo next year.

“We are planning to include the Green Expo on our website, provide underwriting support on the radio, and television, and run an ad in Experience Magazine,” Morse said.

Morse said that MPBN has a strategic plan to emphasize news and public affairs, and as an organization, is taking on a focus of sustainability for Maine.  “What does this mean for Maine, and how can we further this cause?  We will sponsor programs like the Go Green Expo in Topsham last weekend.  We want to embrace sustainability in Maine, and provide whatever support we possibly can to those efforts.  The Midcoast Green Collaborative appeared to be an ideal opportunity to support sustainability.”

He said that the organization has a five year plan to sponsor agendas that are adopting sustainability.
In addition to the announcement by Morse, the event went on late into the evening.  Several local members of the Collaborative gave short presentations.

Paul Kando gave a brief version of the global warming presentation he learned from Al Gore.  He discussed ways to make Damariscotta a “green” town, based on movements that are underway in Europe, which have included taking a whole town off the electrical grid using locally produced methane from livestock dung.  “Europe is ten leagues ahead of us.  Why can’t we make Damariscotta the green town on the map?” Kando said.

Kate Huntington discussed building warm houses without heating systems, having schools perform energy audits, supporting renewable energy legislation, and performing low-cost home energy audits using a grant obtained from the Maine People’s Alliance.

Other issues discussed included energy and environmental education, and plans for the upcoming expo.  There will be changes, including education components, to the Expo this year.z