The Hydrogen Energy Center and kindred organizations will present a talk by Tom Allen on the status and trends in US federal government renewable energy policy, on Wednesday, January 9, at 7 p.m., at the Frontier Cafe in Brunswick.

Congressman Allen serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over energy issues. He will report to constituents about his work on a balanced energy policy, a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), increasing fuel efficiency standards, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, and the Small Business Investment and Promotion Act. He will also give an update on the new Farm Bill, which has numerous energy efficiency and renewable energy provisions in it.

With oil prices at unprecedented highs, our seemingly insatiable demand for energy and a strained electric power grid in need of greater capacity and supply, it is time for strong leadership in Washington. Congressman Allen has long been a leader on environmental and energy issues. Time for questions and answers will be allowed.

Carbon offsets for travel to the event have been generously donated by co-sponsors Maine Interfaith Power & Light and Clean Air-Cool Planet, with support from Shaw's Supermarkets.

This event is hosted by the Hydrogen Energy Center and generously co-sponsored by Chewonki Foundation; Clean Air - Cool Planet; Environmental and Energy Technology Council; Maine Clean Communities; Maine Energy Investment Corporation; and Maine Interfaith Power and Light.

There is no charge for the event, however pre-registration is suggested so that attendees may be notified via email in case of any last minute changes. To pre-register, go to www.HydrogenEnergyCenter.org .

The Frontier Café is located in the Fort Andross Building at 14 Maine Street (Route 24) next to the Androscoggin River Bridge in Brunswick, Maine. More information and directions are available at: www.Hydro genEnergyCenter.org

The Hydrogen Energy Center was founded in 1991 to advance the transition to a renewable hydrogen energy economy through education, demonstration, and advocacy. It is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, supported primarily through memberships and grants. Among its recent achievements is the completion of the Chewonki Renewable Hydrogen Project, a renewably powered hydrogen energy system and a range of outreach programs. The CRHP was developed in partnership with the Chewonki Foundation with major funding from Maine Technology Institute.

The Chewonki Foundation is dedicated to helping people grow individually and in community with others by providing educational experiences that foster an understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the natural world and that emphasize the power of focused, collective effort. Pathways to a Sustainable Future, the hub of Chewonki's leading-edge conservation and energy curriculum, is responsible for developing materials and demonstration projects on a wide range of topics, from solid-waste management to the use of renewable fuels, such as solar, wind, hydro, bio-fuels and hydrogen. The nonprofit serves roughly 40,000 students per year and is located on a 400-acres peninsula in Wiscasset

Clean Air - Cool Planet (CA-CP) is the region's leading organization dedicated to finding and promoting solutions to global warming. Since 1999 CA-CP has partnered with leading campuses, communities and corporations across the Northeast to identify and implement pragmatic solutions and build constituencies for effective climate policies and actions.

The Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2 Tech) promotes sector-wide job growth, research and development, and new product commercialization for an industry whose economic impact in Maine totals nearly 700 business and organizations and over 5,000 jobs.

Maine Clean Communities is a government-industry partnership, designed to reduce the use of petroleum in the transportation sector by advancing the use of alternative fuels and vehicles, idle reduction technologies, hybrid electric vehicles, fuel blends and fuel economy. Sponsored by the US Department of Energy and administered by the Greater Portland Council of Governments, Maine Clean Communities is one of 80 Clean Cities Coalitions across the country whose shared goal is to displace 2.5 billion gallons of petroleum annually by 2020.

Maine Energy Investment Corporation's mission is to "mainstream" renewable energy, making cleaner, healthier and homegrown fuel and electricity available to all Mainers. The Brunswick-based 501(c)3 non-profit manages a variety of projects promoting technologies like solar, biofuels, hydrogen and clean electricity.

Maine Interfaith Power and Light is a non-profit organization and licensed electricity aggregator which acts as a matchmaker between consumers and suppliers to provide clean, renewable electricity. Maine Interfaith Power and Light is also a membership organization, which offers communities of faith the opportunity to participate in our campaign to stop global warming and to promote energy conservation and renewable power use. Members receive renewable energy certificates from the Mars Hill Wind Farm in northern Maine.