Dear John,

As we wind down the month of July, which is on track to beat June for the hottest month in recorded history, I’m feeling thankful for my heat pumps. I’m not the only one; more than 100,000 heat pumps have been installed in Maine in the last two years, and they’re all efficiently keeping the heat and humidity at bay.

Maine is being bold, setting a national example for managing the climate crisis. Alongside Governor Mills’ new goals of 100% renewable energy by 2040 and installing 175,000 more heat pumps by 2027, the 131st Maine Legislature has voted to pass historic offshore wind legislation, setting in motion a plan for 3 GW of offshore wind in Maine by 2040. A remarkable coalition of environmental groups, labor advocates, and a key fisheries organization collaborated on the bill, which was signed into law by Governor Mills this week!

With so much gratitude for our audience, colleagues, partners, advocates, and volunteers (and after the longest legislative session in human memory), the Lunch & Learn team will be taking some much-needed respite, and there will be no programs in August.

We’ll be back online after Labor Day and back to the regular Friday schedule.

– Will