Matt Kearns, Chief Development Officer, Longroad Energy will be our speaker this Friday.
Matt has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry with a focus on developing renewable energy projects.
In his current role at Longroad Energy, which is headquartered in Boston, Matt is responsible for the company’s project development activities across the U.S., but happily based in Portland, Maine. Longroad is a renewable energy developer focused on the development and operation of wind and solar energy projects throughout North America.
Prior to joining Longroad, he was the Vice President for Development at First Wind Energy. There he led the development, and supported the financing and construction of approximately 700MW of wind power in the northeastern U.S., which is among the most challenging permitting and development environments in the country. This portfolio includes the two largest wind projects in New England; Oakfield Wind (150MW) and Bingham Wind (186MW) located in Maine and one of the first wind projects in Vermont -- Sheffield Wind (40MW).
Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts, English/Environmental Studies from Colby College. He serves on Maine Audubon’s Advisory Board of Directors and is a Corporator for the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine.
The title of his presentation is: Future of Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Projects in Maine.
Angus King, III, Summit Utilities’ Vice President and Chief Development Officer, manages all growth efforts for the company, overseeing sales, marketing, and M&A activity.
Previous to Summit, Angus worked on M&A for First Wind, which later became SunEdison. His present job is VP and Chief Development Officer, which includes Sales, Marketing, M&A and customer service. The gas system in Maine provides two times the energy provided by electricity. This means that even if we switch all electricity to renewables, we will not hit the state goals. 70% of homes in Maine still heat with oil. If these oil burning homes were converted to natural gas, there is a 20% CO2 reduction. If the boiler is updated then, there is a 11 % reduction. If both are done, then the reduction is 31%.
Renewable natural gas (RNG) captures the methane from trash, manure and food waste. Methane released to the atmosphere has a much higher global warming effect than CO2. By capturing the methane, and converting it to CO2 when burned, the global warming impact would be significant. Summit Gas will be able to burn the gas for energy, and sell the renewable credits to the hot California market.
The real exciting thing is the Community Dairy Project, which is planned to supply 14% of Summit’s needs with locally generated RNG. This will be done with feeding manure, food waste, and some trash to a bio-digester. The output is methane, a semi-dry material suitable for fertilizer, and a dry material suitable for animal bedding. Summit is now working to get farmers, ME regulators and CA regulators to approve the project.
Another plan is to use electrolysis, which can create hydrogen from water and electricity. Up to 5% hydrogen can be mixed into the natural gas system. Hydrogen, when burned, emits no global warming gases. Hydrogen can also be a feedstock with CO2 to a bio-reactor which generates methane. The bio-reactor is charged with bacteria, evolved to optimize this reaction. Summit is currently working with NREL on this project.
(Photo L-R: David Ertz, 2nd VP Bob Martin and Angus King III.)
Bob Martin, Second Vice-President, led the meeting while President Amy is in India. PP Alan Nye led the invocation with a reading of the inpirational poem, "A Psalm of Life" by the Maine poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). Two visiting Rotarians were welcomed. Angela Smith returned as a visitor, who was past president of the Rotary Club of Warrenton, Virginia. She is now working in Freeport, Maine and will join the Portland Rotary. Barry Barr is visiting from the Rotary Club of Orange, Virginia. Both visitors are affiliated with the Virginia District 7610 Rotary Clubs.
2nd VP Bob Martin acknowledged the passing of two former Rotarians, Lois Carlson (left) and Rebecca Wright (right).
Raffle was led by Jennifer Frederick. Speaker Angus King III drew Don Lowry's name but the lucky Queen was not his draw so the growing jackpot of $1,435 will be worth even more in next Friday's March 6 drawing.
PP Tom Talbott organized a Rotary group "Get Well - Thinking of You" photograph to send to PP Loretta Rowe to let her know everyone is thinking of her and wishing her the best for a speedy recovery during her trying medical leave.
(ed.- Photo was VERY WELL received through email and truly lifted my spirits. Your continued support overwhelms me, but I couldn't do it without you. I will keep the photo in front of me to say "hi" all the time. Thank you to everyone involved and to TT for making it happen.)
Patty Erickson is excited to be organizing the Rotary Corn Hole Fund Raising Tournament on Saturday, May 17, at 11 AM. Stay tuned for more information.
Rotarians are reminded to bring in the items to give to Gracie Johnston next Friday, the deadline for stuffing the Preble Street teen survival kit bags. Please consider a financial donation and/or contribute gloves, mittens, hand warmers, lip balm and hand lotion. Check with Gracie for more information at gjohnston@portlandradiogroup.com.
David Putnam reported about the Thursday, March 19, Rotary meeting, to be held from 5-7:30 PM, at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland. A committee is planning a "Trivia Game" program. Does anybody know of a person who can lead a group trivia game? Please contact David at: david.f.putman@mercer.com or Mike Fortunato at: michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com for more information. There will be no Friday, March 20, Portland Rotary meeting because the club will meet the night before at the Italian Heritage Center. Please invite guests, spouses and friends.
Happy Dollars included a contribution from First Vice President Ellen Niewoehner, who is happy to be attending the Northeast President Elect Training (PETS) from March 5-7, 2020, in Framingham, Mass. Good luck, Ellen!
NOTABLE DATES FOR MEMBERS IN MARCH Member Birthdays Mar 1 - Jerry Angier 4 - Patty Byers 4 - Joel Gratwick 4 - Steve Mortimer 5 - Jen Sledge 6 - Michelle DiSotto 9 - Dave Small 14 - Mac Collins 16 - Larry Gross 26 - Angela Smith 29 - Ellen Niewoehner 29 - Paul Tully 30 - John Thompson 31 - Alan Nye
Date-Joined-Rotary Anniversaries 3 years - Brian McDonough 3 years - Mike Robinson 4 years - Nick Lotfey 5 years - Gracie Johnston 10 years - John Curran 22 years - Angela Smith 22 years - Tom Ranello 28 years - Howie Herodes 28 years - Queenie Wescott 30 years - JOEL GRATWICK
Invocation: Dave Small Program Reporter: Jake Bourdeau
Bits & Pieces Reporter: Tom Talbott
Photographer: Julie L'Heureux Registration/Greeter: Mike Anderson Sell Meal Tickets: Brian McDonough Raffle: Matt Tassey Collect Meal Tickets:Olivier Ndayirukiye Sgt-at-Arms: Mike Fortunato
The following items are needed on an on-going basis. Please feel free to bring them to a meeting, where we will collect and distribute them to the appropriate projects.
Crutches4Africa - Crutches, canes, folding walkers and wheelchairs to be shipped to Africa. Contact: Erik Greven at: egrev95@gmail.com
Toiletries for the Shelters - Collect those tiny bottles of toiletries you are paying for during your next hotel visit and bring them home for members of our society who find themselves staying at a shelter and in need of personal hygiene products.
Matt Kearns, Chief Development Officer, Longroad Energy will be our speaker this Friday.
Bob Martin, Second Vice-President, led the meeting while President Amy is in India. PP Alan Nye led the invocation with a reading of the inpirational poem, "A Psalm of Life" by the Maine poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). 
