Natural Resource Economics Commons^™

Energy Efficiency, Business Competitiveness, And Untapped Economic Potential In Maine, Charles S. Colgan, Samuel Merrilll, Jonathan Rubin

Regional Studies

The economic stresses on Maine’s businesses are growing. A slowing economy and rising input costs, particularly for energy, are increasing pressures in a state where concerns about the costs of doing business remain high. But there is much that businesses can do on their own to relieve some of these pressures. Even a quick examination of Maine’s energy situation shows that there are both real challenges and opportunities. Perhaps the single most effective action to enhance Maine’s business climate and economic competitiveness is to aggressively increase the energy efficiency of Maine’s economy.