Maine Students Design Real Clean Energy Fixes in One Day

Thirty Bowdoin College students gave up their Saturday to solve one of Maine's biggest challenges: how to reach 100% clean energy without waiting for federal funding.

The Common Good Energy Challenge brought together students from different majors on February 28 to tackle real-world energy problems. They had just one day to research, design, and pitch solutions to a panel of expert judges.

Event organizer Eden Zumbrun wanted to create something different from typical classroom learning. "We felt like we wanted a way to apply what we learned in class to a real-world situation in a way that felt meaningful," she said.

The day started with expert presentations about Maine's energy landscape. Dan Burgess, acting commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources, explained the state's goals and current obstacles. Karen Blakelock from the Nature Conservancy and Bowdoin Professor Erik Nelson added insights about renewable solutions and power grids.

Then the real work began. Seven teams had three hours to design feasible, scalable solutions that Maine communities could actually implement.

Students got creative. Proposals ranged from innovative heat pump systems to using kelp as home insulation to biogas systems powered by compost.

The winning team proposed state-subsidized household batteries that homeowners could use to store renewable energy. Annie Moore, Liam Mattox, Graham Reynolds, Adam Rublin, and Ethan Stolper took home the top prize with their practical approach.

The Ripple Effect

The competition did more than generate good ideas for one state. Zumbrun plans to send the top three proposals directly to Maine's Department of Energy Resources for consideration.

Participant Emma Butterfield found hope in the turnout itself. "It was nice and comforting to see how many people were spending eight hours of their weekend not only participating in a challenge, but also putting time into environmental solutions," she said.

The event proved what happens when you combine different perspectives. Teams included students studying everything from environmental science to government to economics, creating solutions no single discipline could have designed alone.

Zumbrun wants the challenge to continue after she graduates and expand beyond energy into other sectors. "I was blown away with all the solutions that everybody came up with," she said. "It was a good testament to what happens when you get smart people in a room together."

The next generation isn't just learning about climate solutions—they're designing them, one Saturday at a time.