CARIBOU — Bob Clark, NMDC executive director, was guest speaker at a “County Connections” event held Saturday, April 23, at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. County Connections is a monthly event sponsored by the Aroostook County Republican Committee at locations throughout Aroostook County. Clark provided an analysis of opportunities for development of renewable energy and IT operations.
Clark said, “NMDC and the Aroostook Partnership for Progress have dared to depart from tradition and are empowering community leaders to engage in an economic development process for change that brings together people from many sectors and walks of life for a common purpose — taking control and stewardship for Aroostook’s economy. Such a transformative undertaking requires active and involved leadership.”
He reported that Aroostook County residents carry twice the national average burden for residential energy cost.
“Since 2004, Aroostook electricity costs have increased 48 percent for residential customers and 60 percent for commercial customers,” Clark said.
Clark said, “The 2015 Industry Cluster Goals are: (1) develop 200MW of wind energy, (2) utilize 45,000 tons of locally-sourced biomass for residential and commercial heating, (3) capture and retain 50MW of locally-generated power, and (4) realize 50 jobs at $42,000+ linked to renewable energy R&D. The strongest renewable-energy opportunities in Aroostook County come from biomass, both as a heating energy source and as a feedstock for generating electrical energy.”
“Aroostook County’s opportunity in the IT sector is to deliver high-quality service and excellent customer value in back-office operations,” continued Clark, “with emphasis on the following: (1) Northern Maine IT Outsourcing Collaborative, Regional Data Storage Center, Regional IT Technology Center, U.S. Health Care Reform, Energy Utility Customer Support and Event and Festival Management.”
Aroostook County Republican chairman, former state Sen. Hayes Gahagan, said, “Republicans, Independents and Democrats all appreciate Bob Clark’s long-standing service to Aroostook County. We’re all in this together and we all stand together for Aroostook County.”
For more information about the Aroostook County Republican Committee and “County Connections” contact Program Chair Geri Martin at Gmartin911@gmail.com or call 227-3486.
