Two Maine companies—Baseline ES and Foothill Fuels—have been accepted into this year’s Cleantech Open, a national startup accelerator program and business-pitch competition for companies working on ideas that could help solve the world’s greatest environmental and energy challenges.

Baseline ES, based in Yarmouth, is an engineering and design firm that’s improving the energy efficiency of grocery retailers using IoT-based control systems, according to Martin Grohman, executive director of the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (known as E2Tech).

Foothill Fuels, based in Portland, develops and markets high-performance, low-carbon renewable fuels for the outdoor recreation market. 

“Both companies have a lot of potential and by working with more than 100 other cleantech companies in this accelerator we expect them to advance even more quickly,” Grohman told Maine Startups Insider.

The Cleantech Open is a hybrid between a startup accelerator and business pitch competition. It claims to be the world’s largest accelerator for startups working in the areas of environmental science and clean energy.

The accelerator and competition begin at the regional level. Cleantech Open Northeast received 75 applications for this year’s cohort. Baseline ES and Foothill Fuels are two of 47 startups that were accepted into the program.

E2Tech helped recruit the companies and with the applications. The Maine Technology Institute is also financially supporting the companies’ participation.

Several Maine companies over the years have been accepted into the Cleantech Open, including a few that won the northeast regional competition and went to the national competition. Surge Hydro won the regional competition in 2017, Portland-based Rapport won in 2015, and Pika Energy in Gorham won in 2012. So far, no Maine company has won the national competition.