Estimate

Every Maine Business Can Have a Clean Energy Plan

Once you’ve made the Commitment, and taken your first meaningful step toward 100% Clean Energy, it’s time to outline your Pathway Plan for the rest of the steps you will take. Your individualized plan begins with estimating your current emissions from fossil fuel. You’ll then have the basis for deciding your Milestones—your actions and target dates for improving efficiency, electrifying equipment, or choosing renewable power—each designed to eliminate a percentage of your emissions, over the timeline that works for your business. Step-by-step you’ll be ‘On The Pathway To 100% Clean Energy.’

Ready To Get Started?

Estimating Your Emissions: How and why do you burn coal, oil or gas for your business? How much does each fossil fuel contribute to your total emissions?

Use our Emissions Estimator here. You will see a series of questions about the electricity and fuel you buy. If you rent, include electricity and heating costs that you pay.

Based on the information you supply, our online tool calculates an estimate of the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel, either burned directly in your own facilities and vehicles or indirectly by your electricity supplier. These are known as your Scope 1 and Scope 2 Emissions.

NOTE: Energy purchased by other businesses, your employees, and your customers is beyond the scope of our estimator. Those are known as your Scope 3 Emissions.

Outlining Your Pathway Plan

Starting Line: Baseline Emissions

Report the emissions from the fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas, etc.) you are buying and burning for your own energy needs.

Milestones to 100% Clean Energy

A "milestone" is an action and a deadline to eliminate a percentage of your emissions. For example, one of your milestones might be "transition to electric vehicles" to eliminate 25% of your baseline emissions by 12/31/2025. Your milestones should add up to 100%.

This practical Pathway Plan was shared with us by Doug Hylan, president of Hylan & Brown Boatbuilders of Brooklin, Maine. Doug’s company has already achieved an important Milestone—installing a solar array. Year-by-year, Doug and his company will be progressing along their Pathway to 100% Clean Energy.

Images courtesy of Hylan & Brown Boatbuilders

Putting It All Together

Here’s a real plan from a Maine business: Hylan & Brown Boatbuilders.

Milestone Date Emissions %
2020 Baseline 18,508
1: Install rooftop solar array March 2021 9,211 49.77%
2: Convert office to heat pump October 2022 1,110 6.00%
3: Convert shop heat to heat pump or wood pellets January 2024 4,172 22.54%
4: Convert vehicles to electric January 2028 2,852 15.41%
5: Convert remaining heaters to electric January 2030 1,162 6.28%
Emissions Eliminated 18,508 100.00%

There’s plenty of help available to you, whether its assistance with estimating your emissions baseline, or determining the most appropriate actions, expected costs, and the timeline that’s best for your business. Please be in touch and we’ll help connect you with the support you need.

Make the Commitment

Power your business with 100% clean energy & zero emissions from fossil fuel.

Your customers, your community — and your bottom line will take notice

  1. Commit to the goal of 100% clean energy
  2. Reduce your own use of coal, oil and gas
  3. Outline your plan to reach zero emissions from fossil fuel over time
Get Started Now