On Monday, June 22, the Northern New England Energy Conference kicked off with a lively Welcome Reception, giving attendees the opportunity to connect with vendors before the Awards Dinner. The evening celebrated excellence across the industry, with EMANH recognizing Eastern Propane & Oil as its Member of the Year. MEMA also honored Courtney Policy Group and Boston Steel, a Tremcar USA Division, for 10 years of membership; Altria, Cross Insurance, and Energy Kinetics for 25 years; and R.H. Foster for an outstanding 60 years of membership.

After dinner, attendees gathered on the club patio overlooking Frenchman Bay to enjoy drinks and an acoustic performance by Isaiah Bennett, providing a relaxing close to the evening.

Tuesday, June 23, began with a series of educational sessions. Michael Pizziferri, Senior Officer for the Consulate General of Canada in Boston, opened the day with a presentation on the U.S.-Canada energy partnership and the importance of cross-border trade. He noted that Maine sells more to Canada than to its next 16 foreign markets combined and emphasized that strengthening the relationship between the two countries is key to building a more secure and resilient North American energy future.

Next, Brian Renaud, Senior Director of Market Development for Growth Energy, and Andrew Falco, Director of Market Development for Growth Energy, explored the potential expansion of E15 in New England. Their presentation covered the fundamentals of E15, market economics, and implementation strategies, highlighting how retailers can increase traffic and profitability while offering consumers a lower-cost fuel option.

The morning concluded with Joe Arduca, Division Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in Vermont and, most recently, Maine. Arduca explained how FMCSA emergency exemptions apply during disasters, fuel shortages, severe weather, and other emergencies, with a focus on Hours of Service waivers.

Heavy rain Tuesday morning forced the cancellation of the Golf Scramble at the historic Kebo Valley Golf Club. Fortunately, the weather improved by the afternoon, allowing attendees on the Lobster Fishing and Seal Watching Tour to experience some of Maine’s iconic coastal scenery. The day wrapped up with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Vendor Blender where a few lucky winners walked away with some fantastic raffle prizes from our vendors before attendees headed out to enjoy dinner at Bar Harbor’s many local restaurants.