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MRRA announces more progress on renewable energy |
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by Annee Tara
Coastal Journal contributor
 BRUNSWICK — With $400,000 in grant funding more or less in the bank, the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) is ready to move forward on the feasibility study for a Brunswick Renewable Energy Center (BREC). Executive Director Steve Levesque announced the planned study at MRRA's Annual meeting in October, but the awards have only recently become final.
Levesque made a brief presentation about the scope of the feasibility study at the Authority's November meeting, starting with the announcement that Thomas Brubaker of Brunswick has been named to lead the renewable energy project. While Brubaker has not yet even started work at MRRA, the design of the study has been established.
Feasibility in this case does not mean whether there should be a Center; but rather what the Center should look like. The vision presented by Levesque is “an energy centered business and living complex,” modeled in part on the University of California at Irvine which recently announced a $2 million grant to begin to make that campus a “living renewable energy lab.” Levesque said that “UCI has been kind of a mentor to us” and is one of 15 or so partners already identified for the Brunswick project. “We can see becoming the UCI of the East,” he said.
MRRA member Adam Cote noted that “green energy technology is a wide swath,” and that everywhere he goes businesses, organizations and communities are looking to the sector as the economy of their future. He suggested finding a niche, such as smart grid technology or storage of thermal power.
Dana Totman, another member of the Authority asked whether any of the “off-base” locations such as Topsham or East Brunswick would be involved. Levesque replied that the 60 acres in East Brunswick would probably remain in open space, but the housing site on McKeen Street in Brunswick and the mixed-use Topsham annex could be part of the effort.
The generally upbeat tone of the meeting turned when Fred Blanchard of Brunswick rose to deliver a paper he had prepared on the experience at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine. He argued that while the projections for that base, which closed in 1994, were rosy; the jobs that have been created are mostly for the government and are largely subsidized by taxpayers or the Loring Redevelopment Authority. He noted that all of the Public Benefit Conveyances that have been granted at the Brunswick Base have been to government or non-profit agencies.
MRRA Co-Chair Jon Moncure countered that Brunswick is much different from Limestone and will be attractive to businesses looking for a vibrant community with a trained workforce in which to locate. MRRA member Charlie Spies said that he is more optimistic about “where we can go.” Public Benefit Conveyances must, by Federal law be made only to non-profits, and Cote noted that the Reuse Plan envisions a big part for private enterprise. He said members of MRRA serve because they love this community, the region and the State.
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