Tomorrow, Thursday, November 4, U.S. Senator Angus King will tour Robbins Lumber Company in Searsmont and Surge Hydro in Belfast. At Robbins Lumber, King will meet with company leadership to discuss challenges and opportunities facing Maine’s forest products industry and ongoing efforts at the federal level to support the state’s forest economy.

At Surge Hydro, Senator King will learn about the company’s effort to develop hydroelectric facilities that deliver reliable energy in a safe and sustainable way. Late last month, Surge Hydro was named one of the four regional winners of the Cleantech Open Northeast, a cleantech accelerator with a mission to find, fund, and foster entrepreneurs who are working to address today’s most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges, according to a news release.

Surge Hydro will compete in the national competition in February 2017. Since 2005, more than 1,000 startups have participated in its annual accelerator and mentorship program in the United States alone, raising a total of more than $1.2 billion and creating thousands of jobs. The program provides extensive mentoring, training, business clinics, access to investors and capital, and numerous opportunities to showcase to the media and the public. 

Senator King will then travel to Bucksport where he will meet with town officials to discuss ongoing efforts to redevelop the former site of the Verso Paper mill. Senator King and the officials will also tour the former mill site.