ClimateWork Maine

Not Our Usual Post 👉 A Message From Our Executive Director: Reconnecting to Purpose

Eight years ago, I stepped away to volunteer overseas with an extreme animal rescue team. It was one of the most difficult, humbling, and meaningful experiences of my life. This summer, I’ll be doing it again.

At ClimateWork Maine, I’ve had the privilege of working with businesses on environmental and energy issues — helping organizations navigate sustainability, resilience, and the realities of a changing world. It’s work I deeply believe in. But anyone in this field understands that climate and environmental progress often exists at the intersection of science, politics, economics, and competing priorities. The work matters enormously, but it can also be exhausting.

At some point, you realize that recharging is not stepping away from purpose — it’s reconnecting to it.

Wildlife and animal welfare have always been deeply personal to me. Rescue work is not glamorous. It can be brutal, heartbreaking, and emotionally and physically draining. But it is also profoundly human. To care for vulnerable animals in difficult conditions is to be reminded that compassion still matters, even in a world that often feels overwhelmed by crisis and noise.

Life is short. Much shorter than we like to pretend.

If there’s something meaningful you’ve been called to do, a change you’ve wanted to make, or a way you’ve hoped to help others — this is your reminder not to wait forever. Positive change rarely arrives at a convenient time. Sometimes you simply have to choose it.

While I’m away, I’m excited that a nationally recognized sustainability expert will be stepping in as a strategic advisor to help steer ClimateWork Maine and continue delivering value and benefits to the business community. I have tremendous confidence in the leadership and the mission moving forward. More on that transition later.

I’m looking forward to learning, serving, and returning in Autumn with renewed perspective, energy, and gratitude.

Sent from the road. . .

Jeff Marks

Happy Earth Day! 🌎 🌊 🏔️

Our Power, Our Planet reminds us that progress in protecting our land, air, and water is real, resilient, and sustained by the daily actions of communities, workers, innovators, and businesses.

We are especially grateful for the businesses and individuals who show up every day to advance climate action and steward the places we live and work. Last month’s Summit was a powerful reminder of the momentum, collaboration, and optimism driving this work, and we’re energized by all that’s ahead this year. From new partnerships to exciting programming, we’re looking forward to continuing to build a more sustainable future together.

For sustainable businesses, every day can be Earth Day. 🌲

In celebration of Earth Day 2026 and this year’s focus on renewable energy and our collective power to drive change, ClimateWork Maine is pleased to announce our 2026 Fall Climate Connection Business Webinar Series: Powering Maine’s Future.

This three-part series, sponsored by Drummond Woodsum, will explore the opportunities, challenges, and innovations shaping Maine’s energy landscape—today and in the years ahead.

Join us this fall for engaging conversations with experts and leaders across the energy sector:

(1) Innovations in Grid Generation, Transmission & Policy:
A look at how Maine’s grid is evolving to meet future energy demands.

(2) The Northern Maine Renewable Energy Transmission Project:
Exploring one of the region’s most significant infrastructure initiatives.

(3) AI & Data Centers in Maine: Technology, Policy, and the Road Ahead:
Understanding the intersection of emerging technology and energy use.

As Maine continues to lead in clean energy innovation, these discussions will highlight how we can responsibly and effectively power our communities while supporting economic growth and sustainability.

All webinars in the series are free and open to the public, making it easy to learn, engage, and be part of the conversation.

Mark your calendars and reserve your spot today!
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/55587355643

Looking for some Earth Day listening? Check out this Let's Connect Radio episode recorded at our Summit! 🎙️ 🌎

Host Kristina Egan, Executive Director of 2026 Climate Collaborator Award winner GPCOG, sits down with keynote speaker Bob Keefe of E2 for a conversation about how business leadership can drive climate action and economic growth.

Tune in for a conversation that goes beyond the summit stage and into the real-world choices shaping Maine’s clean economy. Hear practical insight, big-picture perspective, and a reminder that climate leadership and economic growth can move forward together.

Listen to Let's Connect on your favorite podcasting platform or right here on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6cLm2GoVutdtO4iVJRWSg6

Watch more Summit content on our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/

With Earth Day tomorrow, this new Ask ACE article featured in Mainebiz is a timely reminder that sustainability can start with one practical, affordable step.

Written by ClimateWork Maine Sustainability Council and Association for Consulting Expertise Board member Carrie Yardley, the piece shows how small businesses can begin by asking the right questions about where they bank and how their money is put to work.

The article also highlights low-cost actions like choosing financial partners aligned with your values and making smart efficiency upgrades that support both your bottom line and a cleaner future.

ClimateWork Maine is here to help businesses navigate these practical first moves and connect with like-minded leaders taking action across Maine.

Read the article here and check it out to see how your business can take the first step today: https://mainebiz.biz/article/ask-ace-my-company-cannot-afford-a-sustainability-officer-what-is-a-practical-first-step-action-we-can-afford-now/

Time to announce our final 2026 Climate Action Award, the Climate Collaborator Award! 🫂

The Climate Collaborator Award honors a nonprofit or community organization that brings people together—building partnerships to advance climate justice, resilience, and a thriving, low‑carbon economy.

This year’s recipient, the Greater Portland Council of Governments, exemplifies that spirit of collaboration. Through its work with dozens of municipalities, GPCOG helps communities across our region plan sustainably, access vital funding, and turn climate goals into local action.

Their focus on engagement, data, and shared learning has created a model for regional climate leadership—one grounded in partnership and practical solutions.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 Climate Action Award winners, and thank you for all of the great work that you do!

📸 Gould Photo
Accepting the award is Sara Mills-Knapp, Director of Sustainability at GPCOG.

Our next Climate Action Award, The Climate Innovation Award, honors visionaries leading the way in sustainable solutions—entrepreneurs and startups turning bold ideas into meaningful climate impact. ⚙️

This year’s recipient, Bluesonde, exemplifies that spirit of innovation. Based here in Maine, Bluesonde is transforming how we monitor and protect our waters with compact, solar‑powered buoys that deliver continuous, real‑time environmental data.

Working alongside researchers, aquaculture operators, and municipalities, Bluesonde is making high‑quality water data more accessible and actionable—supporting climate adaptation, ecosystem protection, and smarter water management across our coasts and communities.

Their work shows that homegrown innovation can help Maine, and the world, build resilience in the face of climate change.



📸 Gould Photo
Photos feature CEO & Co-Founder Andrew Thompson accepting the award.

Podcast Published! Taking the lead on climate

At the ClimateWork Maine Summit in Portland on March 19, 2026 host Kristina Egan sits down with Bob Keefe, a national climate advocate and Executive Director of E2—a nonpartisan network of business leaders, investors, and professionals working across sectors to advance policies that strengthen both the economy and the environment. In 2025, Time magazine named Keefe one of the nation’s top 100 climate leaders.

Listen on your favorite podcasting platform or right here on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6cLm2GoVutdtO4iVJRWSg6

ClimateWork Maine
Produced at Greater Portland Council of Governments for broadcast on WMPG FM

Next up in our Climate Action Awards, we celebrate a true leader in sustainable business practices. 🌲

The Climate Performance Award recognizes a Maine business demonstrating measurable leadership in reducing emissions and embedding sustainability across its operations and supply chain.

This year’s recipient, Sappi North America, sets that standard. With facilities in Skowhegan and Westbrook, Sappi is both a cornerstone of Maine’s forest economy and a leader in environmental performance.

78% of its energy comes from renewable sources, much of it generated onsite by repurposing production byproducts. Sappi also reports the lowest carbon intensity among North American paper and packaging producers, with emissions reduction targets aligned with climate science.

Its impact extends beyond carbon—returning 92% of water to its source and sourcing fiber from responsibly managed, certified forests.

Learn more about Sappi’s work and their ClimateWork Maine award in their press release: https://www.sappi.com/en-jp/about-us/news-and-events/sappi-recognized-climate-performance-award-climatework-maine

📸 Gould Photo
Sappi employees who accepted the award, from left to right: Bakul Wadgaonkar, Sustainability Director; Kyle Appleton, Brad Bryant, and Evan Chatmas.

We’re excited to kick off our celebration of this year’s Climate Action Award recipients—honoring Maine businesses driving meaningful climate progress. 🏆

Our 2026 Climate Catalyst Award goes to BrightBuilt Home, recognized for more than a decade of leadership proving that high-performance, low-impact housing isn’t just possible in Maine—it’s practical, scalable, and transformative. Their open approach to sharing data, designs, and lessons learned continues to inspire builders and homeowners statewide toward cleaner, more efficient futures.

We were also proud to celebrate our 2025 Catalyst Award winner, Evergreen Home Performance, whose ongoing work keeps helping Maine households make energy efficiency more accessible, comfortable, and impactful for all.

Together, BrightBuilt and Evergreen show how innovation and collaboration can spark lasting climate solutions—one home, one business, and one community at a time.

📸 Photo credit: Gould Photo