Items in the News

County talk to focus on energy

By Jen Lynds of the BDN News Staff

February 20, 2008

Presque Isle - Local business leaders are set to garner more information on the growing cost of energy and the impact of the cost on the state next week when the University of Maine at Presque Isle holds a Business Associates Breakfast to focus on the topic.

The University is partnering with Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development to sponsor the Feb.29 event, which will feature John Gulliver, a partner with the Portland-based Pierce Atwood law firm.  Gulliver heads the firm's energy group and its international practice group.  He has developed the firm's energy and natural resources law section, which is active all over the world in the develoment of energy projects.

The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 29, in UMPI's Campus Center.

LEAD has worked for more than 20 years to foster and encourage balanced development in The County and has tackled several projects geared toward boosting the economy and promoting the region.Gulliver's presentation, "Energy:Maine and the World," will offer insights into taking the state's business enterprise into the worldwide market.

Gulliver, who has been with Pierce Atwood since 1983, specializes in energy sector restructuring, regulatory reform, commercialization, project finance and privatization, cross-border trading, nuclear issues and sustainable development.  He has participated in approzimately 200 power projects and associated power purchase agreements and project financing and acted as an arbitrator in power purchase agreements and project financing and acted as an arbitrator in power purchase agreement disputes.  He is also a legal advisor to governments, nongovernmental institutions and provate companies in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.