FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington is holding a public forum on “New Directions in Farmington’s Energy Future” from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19, in Room 101 of the UMF Roberts Learning Center. This event is free and open to the public.

This is the second event in a series of campus-community forums to target ways in which UMF and the community can reduce the reliance on No. 2 heating oil and explore more cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy sources.

The forum is an open format designed to include a wide range of voices, including UMF students, faculty and staff, town officials, local educators, elected representatives and members of the community.

Recent developments highlight the timeliness and value of this open discussion. These include Summit Natural Gas of Maine’s announcement that it will not be able to deliver natural gas to the campus; the University of Maine System Board of Trustees’ approval of the construction of a UMF central heating plant; and the growing use of wood biomass as a heating source throughout area schools, businesses and homes.

All members of the UMF campus and local communities are encouraged to attend. This event is sponsored by the UMF Sustainable Campus Coalition. For more information, contact Luke Kellett, UMF sustainability coordinator, at luke.kellett@maine.edu or 207-778-7096.