Maine senators move to reauthorize the DOE’s combined heat, power program

Published on August 06, 2019 by Dave Kovaleski


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Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced legislation last week seeking to reauthorize and fund the Department of Energy’s Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAP) program for the next five years.

The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Support Act would help businesses invest in energy efficient CHP equipment. Combined heat and power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is the concurrent production of heating and/or cooling power from a single source of energy. CHP can use a variety of fuels, including fossil and renewable fuels.

The CHP TAP program enables higher education research centers to provide assistance and analysis for any business looking to invest in CHP technology. There are ten regional CHP TAP designated centers throughout the country, including the University of Maine which serves the New England region.

“Maine is blessed with tremendous natural resources, and it’s up to us to come up with innovative ways to use those resources to support local economies, encourage energy efficiency and reduce waste,” King said. “Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnerships play an important role in that effort, empowering institutions like the University of Maine to help businesses invest in CHP and provide new low-cost energy sources to Maine consumers. CHP technology can turn forest byproducts into fuel – it’s an excellent example of Maine ingenuity, and is a major opportunity for our state’s rural communities.”

King originally introduced the CHP Act in 2017. Maine is a national leader in using wood for energy. Recently, the state legislature took action to expand the use of wood for both heat and power, Dana Doran, executive director, Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, said.

“Loggers and truckers in Maine, who rely heavily upon wood energy markets, applaud Senator King and Senator Collins for their efforts to complement state action with common sense federal legislation that will help expand our markets. The DOE Technical Assistance program can provide important tools to assist Maine in expanding market opportunities for wood energy to make Maine more energy independent,” Doran said.

The Department of Energy’s Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnerships help inform communities about the many benefits of using CHP and waste heat to power technologies to provide a clean source of electricity, Collins said.

“The University of Maine, a CHP TAP designee, has already been a major asset to the forest products industry by providing technical assistance, education, and outreach on CHP technology,” Collins said.