The Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association (MAREA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to educating and engaging the public and advocating for renewable energy production, energy efficiency and sustainable living.
MAREA formed in April 2005 to respond to our dependency on fossil fuels and foreign energy. We wanted to take positive action by promoting solutions and actions that individuals, businesses, and groups could implement on a local and regional basis.
Starting in 2005 and for seven years running, MAREA held a spectacular three-day Pennsylvania Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festival in beautiful Kempton, PA. With over 8,000 visitors, 100 vendors & exhibitors and 60 or more lectures & educational workshops, it was the first event of its type in the region. One of many unique features, the festival included a special school-only day, in which many regional college students attended and high schools participated as sanctioned field trips. The Festivals helped establish MAREA’s role in the community as a trusted source of renewable energy information and resources, and as the place to find kindred spirits seeking to live sustainably.
The festival established an appreciation for the value of community in our mission and has provided a core from which MAREA has continued to evolve and develop, striving to make that community more constantly and universally accessible through monthly presentations, book discussion groups and special events, such as the annual Solar and Sustainable Homes Tour, Alternate Transportation rallies, etc. We also continue to implement community renewable energy projects. Our latest project is a solar thermal system for providing domestic hot water for the Opportunity House assisted living facility. Learn more about our outreach and projects in What we do.
The drive for enabling renewable energy and sustainable living is at our core. In recent years, the urgency of climate change has taken hold as not just an implicit but also explicit driver and unifier for our efforts, as best expressed in The Big Picture and Why We Are Here
MAREA is operated by a passionate and diverse all-volunteer Board of Directors.