By Trevor McNally
Less than two weeks ago Maine Governor Janet Mills signed an executive order requiring Maine state agencies to invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emissions reductions.
It’s the next step in Mills’ environmental policy agenda, having also addressed the United Nations General Assembly as part of their Climate Action Summit in September. It was there that she pledged that Maine will be carbon neutral by 2045, being the first sitting governor in Maine history to address the UN. As per the executive order, Maine has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and by at least 80 percent by 2050.
So what does this news mean to folks working in the construction industry or the trades? So far no specific policy details have been unveiled, with the Governor’s detractors even going as far to say that the order was a symbol alone. What we do know, however, is that journeymen and construction workers have been placing a lot of emphasis on the use of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies for many years already.
The United Association, for example, acknowledges that what it calls the “green sector” is one of the fastest growing areas of the industry and has implemented curriculum throughout their apprenticeship program to prepare their future journeymen.
“The Green Training Trailers developed by the UA Training Department demonstrate the sustainable, energy-saving systems that are used in today’s residential and commercial buildings. The United States Green Building Council’s LEED® rating system standards for storm-water design, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, and indoor environmental quality are architectural and engineering concepts that are transformed into reality by the knowledge and hands-on skills of UA workers,” according to the UA’s website.
Hopefully Maine’s plumbers, pipefitters and HVAC technicians will be well suited to the task and do everything they can to help reach the 2030 and 2050 benchmarks.