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** Dear Friend,

The Maine Climate Council has just finished their meeting in Augusta and the ball is officially rolling on next year's Climate Plan. The 39 members of the Council include scientists, industry leaders, bipartisan local and state officials, and engaged citizens, and was created by Governor Janet Mills to develop and oversee the implementation of a climate plan for Maine every four years.

By law, the Council must deliver an updated four-year climate plan by Dec. 1, 2024. Work on this update will be supported in part by a $3 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from the Inflation Reduction Act ([link removed]) .

In addition to today's meeting, the Council has released the 2023 ([link removed]) Climate Progress Report ([link removed]) , featuring important updates and impact stories from Mainers on the frontlines of climate action, like Bates College Professor Beverly Johnson ([link removed]) and Cory Falabella at Downeast Community Partners ([link removed]) .
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Read the complete 2023 Climate Progress Report (PDF) ([link removed])


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** It also includes data on how programs and investments are reaching vulnerable communities, such as the number of weatherization projects and heat pump installations in low-income households in Maine. The Council will continue incorporating equity metrics to ensure benefits are reaching all people in Maine.

Some of the key highlights, actions, and milestones under the 2023 Maine Won’t Wait progress report include:
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** Heat Pumps: More than 115,000 new high-efficiency heat pumps have been installed in Maine, surpassing the climate plan’s 2025 goal of 100,000 new heat pumps two years early. In response to this progress, Governor Mills has set a new ambitious target of 175,000 additional heat pumps in Maine by 2027.
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** Weatherization: The number of Maine homes weatherized increased by 39 percent -- from 9,135 to 12,705 -- from 2022 through 2023. The climate plan’s goal calls for weatherizing 17,500 homes by the end of 2025.
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** Renewable Energy: By the end of 2023, 51 percent of energy consumed in Maine will come from renewable sources, per bipartisan legislation signed by Governor Mills in 2019. The state’s statutory goal is using 80 percent renewable energy by 2030, a target Governor Mills has committed to accelerate to 100 percent clean energy by 2040.
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** Clean Energy Jobs: Through 2023, there are now more than 15,000 jobs in Maine’s clean energy and energy efficiency sector, surpassing the halfway point of the state’s goal to have 30,000 clean energy jobs by the end of the decade.
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** Public Electric Vehicle Charging: The availability of public electric vehicle charging stations has more than doubled in Maine since 2019, from 184 to 459, with future expansion planned through the state’s Recharge Maine initiative.
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** Electric Vehicles: Through 2023, the number of registered battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Maine increased by 33 percent, from 9,244 in 2022 to 12,369 in 2023. Emissions modeling for the climate plan indicated Maine would need 219,000 EV’s by 2030 to support progress toward reduction targets.
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** Community Climate Planning: To date, 174 Maine communities are participating in the Community Resilience Partnership, a state program to provide funding and technical assistance for towns, cities, and tribal governments to address local climate priorities. The program launched just two years ago with an initial goal of 100 communities in its first year.
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Bates Prof. Beverly Johnson's Q&A on Maine Blue Carbon ([link removed])
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Explore the updated Climate Dashboard ([link removed])
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Cory Falabella: Helping Neighbors Save Money on Energy ([link removed])


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** Didn't get a chance to watch? A video recording of today's meeting will be available on the Maine Climate Council YouTube channel ([link removed]) next week.

For more information about the Maine Climate Council, its members, and upcoming meetings, please visit its website ([link removed]) .
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If you were forwarded this message, please consider signing up for our newsletter at MaineWontWait.org ([link removed]) (link).
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