Can HMEF’s Education Strategy Pay Off for Maine’s Service Industry?

As energy systems face increasing strain from rising demand and the transition to renewables, flexibility is becoming the new gold standard for grid reliability. Surprisingly, data centers—once seen solely as power-hungry infrastructure—are stepping up to meet the challenge. With the ability to rapidly reduce consumption or activate standby power during price spikes or grid emergencies,…

As innovation spreads beyond urban centers, small towns are increasingly finding themselves at the forefront of economic transformation. Whether it’s a tech company setting up shop or a new industry planting roots, these shifts present a rare chance for rural communities to redefine their futures. But opportunity alone isn’t enough—it takes local leadership, a collaborative…

As the digital economy accelerates, so does the need for sustainable infrastructure to support it. Data centers, the engines behind our connected world, consume enormous amounts of energy—especially for cooling. Traditional methods rely heavily on electricity and water, straining both the environment and the bottom line. But companies like Applied Digital are reimagining what’s possible…

As AI and high-performance computing (HPC) continue to push technological boundaries, the demand for powerful, efficient infrastructure is more critical than ever. In February 2025, Applied Digital’s Ellendale AI Data Center marked significant progress in meeting that demand. The team announced that ELN02 has officially powered on its first lineup, a major step toward full-scale…