Governor Baldacci Celebrates Earth Day
Press Release
Governor John E. Baldacci today celebrated Earth Day with local businesses that are committed to implementing green practices, ranging from reducing waste, saving energy, buying local and using environmentally friendly cleaning products.
"While it was a Wisconsin Senator who organized the first Earth Day 40 years ago, Maine leaders like Senator Muskie and Senator Mitchell led the way in ensuring that our country's air and water are cleaner and our communities more livable," said Governor Baldacci. "Maine continues to lead, whether it's in pursuing renewable energy development, weatherizing homes, or working with the private sector to implement a combination of energy efficiency and environmentally sound practices. We can take great pride in the fact that governments, families and businesses here in Maine are working together to end dependency on fossil fuels, reducing carbon emissions, reducing use of toxic materials and recycling more every year."
The Environmental Leader certification program, a voluntary program run by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), engages Maine businesses in the effort to become better stewards of the environment. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection launched Maine's Environmental Leader program for the hospitality sector four years ago. There are more than 100 certified lodging establishments, ranging from small bed and breakfasts to large hotels. In 2007, the DEP began to certify restaurants as green for their environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. More than two dozen restaurants have been certified. Last week the DEP, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, expanded its Environmental Leader program to grocery stores.
The Governor celebrated the success of the Environmental Leader program at The Senator Inn & Spa, which is certified green for in the hospitality and restaurant categories. Joining the Governor were other area businesses that participate in the program, including Fairfield Inn in Augusta; Quality Inn and Suites in Augusta; Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell; and Hannaford in Augusta.
"Tourists come to Maine because of our pristine environment -- our great outdoors, our beaches, our small friendly towns. Maine's certified Environmental Leaders reflect the enthusiasm of Maine people and visitors to our great State to keep it clean," said Governor Baldacci. "In addition to seeing an impact on their bottom lines in energy savings, these businesses also benefit from being recognized by the tourism industry as being a certified green business. More and more, visitors appreciate businesses that implement green practices."
According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, annual savings of participating businesses include:
o More than 18 million gallons of water;
o More than 11 million kilowatts, yielding a cumulative $1.2 million dollars per year in energy cost savings, or more than $10,000 per business per year;
o Nearly 8,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent to taking more than 700 cars off the road;
o More than 1 million pounds of solid waste by composting food waste;
o More than 1.5 million pounds of solid waste through recycling programs; and
o Most of these businesses now use safer cleaning chemicals. This has resulted in the annual reduction of nearly 10,000 total pounds of cleaning chemicals, 1,600 of which are considered toxic or hazardous.
The Governor said that Maine State government has been a model for energy efficiency efforts since 2003. Accomplishments include:
o Becoming the first state to purchase 100 percent of its electricity from renewable resources;
o Purchasing biodiesel to heat State buildings;
o Creating a more fuel efficient State vehicle fleet, including purchase of 104 hybrids and reducing fuel use by 17 percent since 2002;
o Using environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals and hand soap in State buildings, reducing the total amount of product used by thousands of pounds, including 900 pounds considered hazardous material;
o Requiring green certified computers and electronic equipment, reducing state energy usage by 917,000 kilowatt hours and eliminating 10,375 pounds of hazardous waste from the waste stream; and
o Purchasing paper with at least 30% post consumer content, saving 1,830 tons of wood.
On Wednesday, the State of Maine received a grant of $30 million from U.S. Department of Energy to make buildings more energy efficient and to measure energy savings, attracting private investors and creating a sustainable revenue stream to fund weatherization and energy efficiency improvements.
For more information about the Maine DEP's Environmental Leader program, including a list of participating Maine businesses, visit:
http://www.maine.gov/dep/innovation/greencert/lodging.htm
http://www.maine.gov/dep/innovation/greencert/restaurant.htm
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