Downeast Wind Blade Signing Ceremony Highlights Benefits to Maine Businesses and Washington County Community

Washington County, Maine – September 26, 2024 – Thursday afternoon, Apex Clean Energy representatives were joined by state and local officials, business leaders, landowners, and supporters to celebrate the construction of the Downeast Wind project. After speakers highlighted the project’s investment with Maine-based businesses and significant benefits to the community, about 100 people signed their name on one of Downeast Wind’s 242-foot-long turbine blades. Attendees gathered beneath one of the newly-constructed wind turbines, now the tallest in the state, showcasing both the scale of the facility and its significance to the community as a major economic development. Continue reading

Apex Clean Energy Partners with Maine-based Reed & Reed for Downeast Wind Construction

Washington County, ME – November 20, 2023 – Apex Clean Energy is pleased to announce the selection of Reed & Reed as the balance of plant (BOP) contractor for the construction of Downeast Wind. In this crucial role, Reed & Reed will oversee all subcontractors, ensuring the project’s success in terms of safety, schedule, and overall execution. Continue reading

Downeast Wind Awards Community Grants to Eight Local Organization

Downeast Wind and Apex Clean Energy are pleased to announce eight regional organizations as the latest round of Downeast Wind Community Grant recipients. The program recognizes meaningful local efforts to build healthy communities, support economic development, foster environmental sustainability, and promote education. “When reviewing grant applications, we get to see firsthand the commitment, creativity, and enterprise of Washington County residents,” said Robert Gee, Development Manager for Apex Clean Energy. “As Downeast Wind advances to construction and takes a more permanent place within this community, we are both thrilled and humbled to call them neighbors and look forward to seeing the results of these great projects.” The Wild Blueberry Heritage Center will receive a $2,000 grant to support the construction of the Wild Blueberry Walkway & Garden, an educational initiative that promotes greater awareness of Maine’s wild blueberry habitat, provides experiential education about local food systems, and celebrates Downeast Maine heritage. Funds from Apex Clean Energy will help to develop and install interpretive signage along the 150-foot wheelchair-accessible pathway, accompanied by wild blueberries, native pollinator plants, and outdoor exhibits based on wild blueberry heritage and ecology. "Thank you so much for considering the Wild Blueberry Heritage Center for a Downeast Wind community grant. We are thrilled to have the support," said Program Director Kaysie Logan. "Through the development of the exhibits and gardens, we can offer educational programming and local produce to the community through workshops, events, and school field trips." A $1,000 grant to the Machias Arts Council (MAC) will help raise awareness of upcoming community events including First Friday Art Walks taking place the first Friday of the month from June-September this year. "We are thrilled and honored to receive this grant from Apex Clean Energy to support the arts in Machias and the surrounding area," said Tim Markley, Chairman of the MAC. "We have great plans and many programs in development, but as a relatively young organization, we lack the funds to embark on many of them. This grant will allow us to move forward."  Gateway Milbridge was awarded a $1,500 grant to support their summer "Friday Night Live" concert series running weekly from July 7 to August 25 at the Milbridge Town Marina. “Gateway Milbridge is deeply grateful for the grant support from Downeast Wind to help us make available a free summer outdoor concert series to all the residents of Downeast, Maine," said Richard Bondurant, Treasurer for the organization. "It’s the support and investment back to the community from companies like Downeast Wind that’s making so much happen for Milbridge and the region.” Women for Health Rural Living received a $1,000 grant to support educational materials and educator stipend's tor the August 19 Butterfly Festival at Milbridge Commons Wellness Park. “This support will help educate our community about the importance of pollinators and provide a family-friendly experience for all,” added Executive Director Chris Kuhni. A $2,000 grant to Washington Academy will pay for the installation of a new solar panel system along with electricity and water hookups for their garden greenhouse. The Washington Academy community garden program has produced over 8,000 poundsof produce for the Machias Area and other food pantries since 2017. "This funding will enable solar panel installation, ensuring the sustainability of our garden. It will also allow us to establish a functional greenhouse with a frost-free spigot and power supply, increasing our ability to provide fresh produce to local food pantries and combat food insecurity within our community," said Washington Academy Biology Teacher Colleen Maker, who helps lead the program. The Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology was awarded a $2,000 grant to support Health Occupation students participating in the CNA SkillsUSA Competition "The students and staff at CWCIT truly appreciate the support Apex Clean Energy gives to their local schools," said staff member Nancy Bailey. "Their financial support certainly has made a difference in some of our projects. This adds to the continuous growth and success of our programs."  Other grantees include a $1,000 grant to Jonesboro Grange to purchase locally-made raised beds for the Jonesboro Grange Countywide Community Garden and a $3,500 grant to the Epping Fire Department to replace a twenty-year-old thermal imaging camera in one of their primary pumper trucks used to respond to structure fires. These eight grant awards total $13,500 for this program's spring grant cycle. Since its inception, the Downeast Wind Community Grant program has supported more than 25 regional organizations with grants totaling more than $75,000. In addition to the Community Grant Program, Downeast Wind will bring more than $20 million of new revenue to the Town of Columbia and Washington County to support community priorities as well as significant local spending, employment, and investment during project construction and operations.

Winter community grants from Downeast Wind awarded to five local organizations

COLUMBIA, ME – February 22, 2022 – Downeast Wind and Apex Clean Energy are pleased to announce five organizations as the latest recipients of funds from the Downeast Wind Community Grant Program. The program, which recently concluded its fourth grant cycle, is designed to support individuals and organizations working to build healthy communities, support economic development, foster environmental sustainability, or promote education. “We are proud to once again recognize the amazing work so many non-profit organizations are doing throughout the Downeast region. These organizations truly care about our region and are working hard every day to make Washington County a better place to live,” said Downeast Wind Development Manager Robert Gee. The Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology (CWCIT) will receive a grant to provide laptops to the school's computer-aided design and pre-engineering programs. "The Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology is thrilled with the generous support of Apex Clean Energy," said CWCIT administrator Nancy Bailey. "We are in year two of offering local juniors and seniors the opportunity for CTE Education close to home. These funds will be used to purchase much needed computers for the CAD Program that we were unable to start without proper technology. This grant will help us reach that goal." Maine Access Points, a non-profit organization working to grow community capacity for overdose prevention education, support, and advocacy throughout the region, received a grant to reduce overdose deaths by investing in proven harm reduction strategies and support systems that meet the needs of rural, high-risk Mainers. MAP Executive Director Hilary Eslinger described the program. "Through innovative approaches, community outreach, and with help from Downeast Wind, MAP will support health and wellness in Washington County by increasing access to first-aid supplies and naloxone, as well as harm reduction health education," said Eslinger. A grant to the Downeast Salmon Federation will support the construction of a new public recreation and education space on the Pleasant River in Addison. The project includes a covered, ADA accessible bird observation structure near the Addison Town Boat Launch.  The Maine Seacoast Mission is receiving a grant to assemble and distribute prepared meals to Washington County residents suffering from food insecurity.  "Rural Maine can be a challenging place to live – especially in a cold winter. The support the Maine Seacoast Mission has received through the Downeast Wind community grant program is already at work feeding people in Downeast Maine from our food pantry and in their homes through our home delivery initiative," said Maine Seacoast Mission President John Zavodny. "Altogether, that’s over 240 meals we are able to provide to people in Washington County because of Downeast Wind community grants and Apex Clean Energy's support. Thank you!" The Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce applied for a grant to support a historic film series the chamber has planned for March 2022. Chamber director Sharon Mack was excited to hear their application was accepted. "Thank you to Downeast Wind for supporting the historic film and discussion series planned for this spring. Thanks to their support, we will be able to offer an honorarium to our speakers and provide quality experts to educate attendees about the deep and rich history of the greater Machias area," said Mack. Among Downeast Wind's top priorities is being a strong community partner to the residents, businesses, local governments, and non-profit organizations of Washington County. In addition to the support provided by the Downeast Wind Community Grant Program, the project will bring more than $20 million of new revenue to the Town of Columbia and Washington County to support community priorities as well as significant local spending, employment, and investment during project construction and operations. To learn more about the Downeast Wind community grant program, or to apply for a future grant, visit www.DowneastWindFarm.com

Downeast Wind Now Accepting Fall 2021 Community Grant Applications

Attention community organizations, educators, and changemakers in the Washington County area – The Downeast Wind Community Grant Program is now accepting applications for Fall 2021 grant awards. Earlier this year, the program provided $1,500 grants to five different local organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education throughout the region, including: Downeast Hospice Volunteers American Legion Narraguagus Post #8  Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education  Downeast Lakes Land Trust  Downeast Salmon Federation Grants are typically awarded in $250 to $4,000 increments, with priority given to proposals that demonstrate meaningful impacts to the greatest number of area residents. We will be accepting applications until November 15, 2021 on our website: www.downeastwindfarm.com/grant Continue reading

Five Local Organizations Awarded $1,500 Community Grants from Downeast Wind

COLUMBIA, ME – July 7, 2021 – Downeast Wind and Apex Clean Energy have awarded $1,500 grants to five local organizations from the Downeast Wind Community Grant Program. The program's purpose is to support local changemakers and community leaders working to build healthy communities, support economic development, foster environmental sustainability, and promote education. Continue reading

Downeast Wind Community Grant Program Now Accepting Applications For Spring 2021 Grant Cycle

The Downeast Wind Community Grant Program is now accepting applications for its Spring 2021 grant cycle. The program provided more than $12,000 last year to support local organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education, including support of the following organizations: Downeast Campus of Maine Seacoast Mission Women for Healthy Rural Living Downeast Equine and Large Animal Society Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center Washington County Community College Project SHARE Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology Community Caring Collaborative Continue reading

Four Washington County non-profits awarded Downeast Wind Community Grants

COLUMBIA, ME – Downeast Wind and Apex Clean Energy are pleased to announce four Washington County-based organizations as the recipients of community grants from the program’s Fall 2020 grant cycle. These funds are designed to support community organizations working in the following areas: Building Healthy Communities, Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, and Promoting Education. “These organizations are doing impressive work on behalf of the communities and residents of Washington County. We are both thankful and proud to support them as they work to strengthen our region,” said Robert Gee, Project Developer for Downeast Wind. A grant for Washington County Community College will support the Pathways for ME program, which coordinates outreach and services for rural learners recovering from opioid addiction, working to mitigate the many factors that contribute to addiction and overdose mortality. Continue reading

Downeast Wind Now Accepting Fall 2020 Community Grant Applications

COLUMBIA, ME – October 1, 2020 – Apex Clean Energy and Downeast Wind are pleased to announce the opening of the Fall 2020 grant cycle for the Downeast Wind Community Grant Program. Grants are typically awarded in $250 to $4,000 increments, with priority given to grants that demonstrate meaningful impacts to the greatest number of area residents. We will be accepting applications until November 20, 2020 on our website: www.downeastwindfarm.com/grant The program was launched this past spring to help organizations in the Town of Columbia and the broader Washington County community. During the Spring 2020 grant cycle the program supported a number of programs, some of which are listed below: A $2,500 grant to the Downeast Campus of the Maine Seacoast Mission to support the organization’s Mission 2020 COVID-19 Response Project. A $500 grant to the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center to help continue its use of HIPPA compliant Zoom software to offer online programming to the people served by the Center throughout Washington County. A $500 grant to Women for Healthy Rural Living to expand public vegetable gardens and education initiatives designed to create a community that is stronger, healthier, and more food independent. Continue reading

Downeast Campus of Seacoast Mission, area non-profits among recipients of Downeast Wind Community Grants

COLUMBIA, ME – May 14, 2020 – Downeast Wind and Apex Clean Energy are pleased to announce the recipients of the first round of 2020 Downeast Wind Community Grant Program funds. These funds are designed to support community organizations in the following areas: Building Healthy Communities, Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, and Promoting Education. “Several of these organizations are moving quickly to help communities impacted by the coronavirus and adjust their operations to better serve the community safely,” said Brian O'Shea, Public Engagement Manager with Apex Clean Energy. “We are thankful to each of them for their efforts and proud to support them as they support Downeast Maine residents during this difficult time.” The Downeast Campus of the Maine Seacoast Mission received a grant in support of the organization’s Mission 2020 COVID-19 Response Project. The funds raised for this effort provide direct support to families and households in maintaining housing, transportation, and other basic needs, as well as allowing the Mission to expand services, such as offering extra days at the Weald Bethel food pantry in Cherryfield. Continue reading