Arnold Cogan Leads Eco-Industrial Tour to Devens, MA

Recently, Arnold Cogan, Founding Principal of COC, led a group of executives from the Port of Portland to Devens, Massachusetts to learn firsthand of the eco-industrial development practices there that can be applied to Port facilities.  Andreas Koenig, Senior Advisor for Sustainable Management for Re-Tem Global, Inc., who has been a consultant to Devens for the past 12 years, also led the group.  Keith Leavitt, the Port’s General Manager for Business Development and Properties, and Tom Imeson, the Port’s Public Affairs Director, represented the Port.

An eco-industrial area is a community of manufacturing and service enterprises located on a common property or in the same region.  Member companies enjoy enhanced environmental, economic and social performance by collaborating to manage resources.

The Devens Eco-Industrial Park is located on 4,400 acres approximately 35 miles from Boston.  It has been operating for about 15 years and is home to about 90 businesses, 70% of which are small to medium manufacturing, distribution and recycling enterprises.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was instrumental in creating the expedited permitting process used in Devens.  Earlier this year, the Oregon Legislature passed SB 766 whose overriding purpose is to make it possible to expedite the process of permitting job-generating industries.  The experience in Devens may be useful as Oregon explores the potential of SB 766.