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State energy pathway · Maine

Start with the energy systems shaping Maine.

Maine generates renewable electricity but depends on heating oil and imported power, a situation that demands smarter local solutions. This shows why Maine matters for students: renewable electricity alone doesn't solve the state's heating and power needs.

Energy data is from the EIA State Energy Data System, EIA State Electricity Profiles, NCSL State Energy Legislation Database, and state economic development offices.

See why energy matters hereJump to the matched course

Why Energy Matters in Maine

Maine's Grid Mix

Maine splits electricity generation between natural gas (41%) and renewables (57%)—mainly hydropower (32%) and wind (15%). Yet the state imports 10 to 20 percent of its electricity annually. Local generation cannot meet year-round demand, particularly during cold winters. Students who understand this constraint—balancing renewable sources against steady demand—are learning the core problem that microgrids address.

Biomass and Security

Biomass generates 10 percent of Maine's electricity—the second-highest state share nationally after Vermont—because 90 percent of the state is forested. Yet Maine imports heating oil (used by two-thirds of households) and 10 to 20 percent of its electricity annually. Students examining Maine's biomass resources alongside these imports learn why engineers must balance multiple sources and constraints to achieve reliable, resilient systems.

Latimer Energy Academy helps Maine students explore how communities that import power could reduce costs and increase resilience — building and simulating a microgrid that connects local generation decisions to real grid constraints.

Energy data is from the EIA State Energy Data System, EIA State Electricity Profiles, NCSL State Energy Legislation Database, and state economic development offices.

Start here for Maine

The Microgrid: Optimization & Resilience

Maine imports 10 to 20 percent of its electricity while producing only a quarter of its energy. Students model whether local generation can reduce that import gap and improve reliability.

Mission spotlight

Tradeoff Tuning

Students vary the resource mix, demand profile, or storage strategy to discover how communities importing power could optimize cost, reliability, and resilience.

Included in LEA curriculum

Pilot proof

Students enjoy the work because it feels real.

In January 2026, 39 fourth-grade students in Indianapolis completed every lesson from start to finish — coding real pocket computers (microcontrollers), collecting live energy readings, and presenting findings to an audience.

4.6/5

Student enjoyment

72% of students gave it a 5-star rating

100%

Reported learning something new

Every student who took the survey said they learned something new

39

Students completed the entire course

Every student finished all five lessons, coded a pocket computer (microcontroller), and presented findings

Available to book today

Book the support that fits Maine.

Whether you want to get LEA into the hands of students this semester, plan for a pilot next year, or just learn more about the state-specific approach, you can book a session with our team to get the support you need.

School or district consultation

Review the state-specific entry point, pilot scope, and what implementation would look like for your classrooms.

Book this path

Founder-led instruction session

Bring Dr. Naeem Turner-Bandele in to teach a project and show what high-quality facilitation looks like with students.

Book this path

Family or community guidance

Get help choosing the right starting point for home learning, after-school use, or a community organization rollout.

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Utility or business partnership call

Discuss local workforce relevance, territory fit, and how we can collaborate to support energy education in your community.

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Find your path

Choose your next step based on how you want to use LEA in Maine.

Select your path below to see the approach designed for how you will use LEA in Maine — whether you run a classroom, lead a school, or support a student at home.

Find the right starting point

Schools

Curriculum and professional development for your district

Teachers

Lesson plans and resources for your classroom

Parents

Learn alongside your child with guided family activities

Community

Hands-on energy programs for clubs and community groups

Utilities

STEM outreach and workforce pipeline programs

Businesses

Partner with Latimer Energy Academy to build the energy and technology workforce