Maine names paper industry veteran as director of Office of Energy Independence and Security

AUGUSTA, ME, March 14, 2011 (Press Release) - Governor Paul LePage announced today that Kenneth Fletcher will lead the Office of Energy Independence and Security. Fletcher is an experienced professional executive with more than 35 years of proven managerial and technical experience in both the private and public sectors.

Fletcher, 65, worked in the pulp and paper industry for more than 30 years. Most recently he worked as a consultant providing managerial and technical expertise to a variety of companies throughout the United States including Huhtamaki Foodservices, Inc., Madison Paper Corporation, and Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation.

In addition to his private sector work experience, Fletcher has an extensive political background having served 8 years as a State Representative for House District 54. He served as the ranking Minority member on the Utilities and Energy Committee, which he was on for eight years. Fletcher was also a member of the Maine's Energy Future Board and served on the Legislature's Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee as well as the Marine Resources Committee. For the past decade Fletcher has been active in his local government sitting on the Winslow planning board and he currently serves on the Winslow town council.

"We need to find ways to lower energy costs for Maine businesses and consumers," said Governor LePage. "Ken is going to help us create policy and find opportunities to drive down prices so our private sector can compete and attract investment."

Fletcher has a Bachelor of Science in Forest Utilization from the University of Maine. He resides in Winslow with his wife Mary Ellen.