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Dear Friend,
Thank you to all who attended the special meeting of the Maine Climate Council on January 23 in person and online. Governor Janet Mills called this meeting in the wake of the recent storms that caused historic flooding and devastating property damage across the state.
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The Council heard from communities that experienced significant damage from the storms, state agencies on the forefront of the response, scientists evaluating the latest trends in climate and sea level rise, and leaders from the state of Vermont, which has advanced many resilience strategies in recent years in response to significant flooding from hurricanes and other extreme storms.
As the Council continues its work to update the state's climate plan, Maine Won't Wait, this week's conversation is the foundation for developing broad-based strategies to make our people, communities, infrastructure, and economy more resilient to climate effects in the future.
The slide presentation of the meeting is here. To be notified when the recording of the full 2.5-hour meeting is available, please subscribe to the Council's YouTube channel here. The recording is expected to be posted early next week.
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Lead-By-Example Report Released; Governor Mills Signs New Executive Order on State Buildings
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The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and Governor’s Energy Office today released the second “Lead By Example” report for Maine’s state government (PDF), which outlines actions by state government agencies in support of the Maine’s four-year plan climate action, Maine Won’t Wait.
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Maine’s Lead By Example initiative stems from an executive order issued by Governor Janet Mills in 2019 directing state agencies to “lead by example” by pursuing energy efficiency, environmental and sustainability practices to reduce operating costs, support state workers, cut emissions, transition to using clean energy, and improve resilience to climate effects.
To further assert Maine state government’s commitment this effort, Governor Mills issued an executive order January 17 (PDF) that directs the state to commit to goals that put Maine on a pathway to decarbonize buildings statewide. The governor's order also includes goals for EV charging stations at public buildings, zero-emissions heating and cooling, and overall reductions in emissions and energy use in state buildings.
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Please join the Community Resilience Partnership team on Friday, February 2nd at 11am to learn more about community engagement, equity, and the role these important practices and concepts might play in your Community Resilience Partnership grant project.
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Introduction to the Maine Climate Council
The Maine Climate Council has started the process of updating the state's climate action plan, Maine Won't Wait, by December 1, 2024. This webinar on Thursday, February 8 at 6pm will provide an introduction to the Maine Climate Council process and how to participate.
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Updates from the Working Groups
Hear from co-chairs and staff from the six working groups of the Maine Climate Council about key topics that are emerging in their discussions and how to provide input. This webinar will take place on Wednesday, February 28 at 12pm.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the new Community Change Grants – approximately $2 billion in funding for community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity within communities to take climate action.
This funding is available right now, and on a rolling basis through November 2024, to community-based organizations, local governments, tribal governments, and institutes of higher education in Maine. Award sizes range from $1 million to $20 million – game changing money for the communities you serve.
The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) will host a webinar about this grant on Thursday, February 1 at 10am. We will describe the program and introduce you to other potential application partners.
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The Maine Municipal Association and the Governor’s Infrastructure Implementation Committee invite you to join representatives from the State for a series of informational webinars on federal infrastructure funding and program opportunities for Maine communities, including those in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
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Broadband & Technology
Description: Hear about opportunities to expand the interconnection and economic viability of Maine communities through improved, robust, affordable and universally available high-speed internet (broadband) and secure information systems.
Date/Time: Thursday, February 1, 2024, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
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Energy Programs & Building Efficiency
Description: Hear about opportunities to improve energy efficiency in buildings and enable the expansion of affordable, clean energy generation and transmission networks.
Date/Time: Thursday, February 15, 2024, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
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Resilience & Environmental Protection
Description: Hear about programs to strengthen the state's preparedness for storm events, flooding, and wildfires; to build resilience of transportation networks, drinking water and wastewater systems; to mitigate contaminants and pollution; and to improve natural capacity of watersheds and ecosystems.
Date/Time: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
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The Community Resilience Partnership helps communities plan for climate change, reduce carbon emissions, and increase resilience. There are 174 Maine towns, cities and tribal governments engaged in the Partnership. New communities are welcome to enroll at any time.
The Partnership has three grant opportunities now available:
1. Community Action Grants (up to $50,000) These grants will enable eligible communities to implement projects that reduce energy use and costs, transition to clean energy, and make communities in Maine more resilient to climate change. This round of Community Action Grants is open to enrolled communities that have not yet received a Community Action Grant award. The next round of Community Action Grants in the fall of 2024 will open to all enrolled communities. Applications are due on March 29, 2024.
2. *NEW* Energy Efficiency Priorities Grants (up to $100,000) This is a special, one-time grant offering through the Community Resilience Partnership to distribute federal funds to disadvantaged communities for projects that improve energy efficiency and implement clean energy systems. GOPIF anticipates making 10 awards of approximately $100,000 each to eligible communities through a competitive Request for Applications (RFA) process. To be eligible, communities must be enrolled in the Partnership AND be designated as "disadvantaged" by the federal EPA CEJST tool. See RFA for full eligibility requirements. Applications are due on February 16, 2024.
3. Service Provider Grants These are grants to service provider organizations to assist communities to prepare for and enroll in the Community Resilience Partnership and then apply for grant funds to undertake priority projects. Applications are due on February 2, 2024.
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New Materials Management Task Force Formed
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Formed as a joint effort between the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the Materials Management Task Force will spend the next six months developing policy recommendations that will help Maine to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the consumption and disposal of materials.
Priority topics the Materials Management will consider include reduction of consumption-based emissions, food waste, scaling up reuse, repair, and refill, resiliency in managing storm and disaster debris, increased access to waste diversion programs, and methane capture and reduction.
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Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Planning & Feedback
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The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) is seeking feedback on Maine's plan to leverage significant federal funding opportunities under the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program.
The CPRG is a one-time funding opportunity available through the Inflation Reduction Act. CPRG provides $5 billion in competitive grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollutants. GOPIF serves as the lead agency for CPRG, and seeks feedback on priority climate actions that this funding could support in Maine.
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Upcoming Maine Climate Council Meetings
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- Feb 15, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Coastal & Marine Working Group
- Feb 16, 2024 | 1- 3pm: Materials Management Task Force
- Feb 27, 2024 | 9am-12pm: Natural and Working Lands Working Group--Land Conservation Subgroup
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- Mar 13, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Natural and Working Lands Working Group--Land Conservation Subgroup
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- Mar 20, 2024 | 2 - 5pm: Buildings, Infrastructure & Housing Working Group
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- Mar 22, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Community Resilience Working Group
- Mar 22, 2024 | 1-3pm: Materials Management Task Force
- Mar 29, 2024 | 9am-12pm: Natural and Working Lands Working Group--Forest Carbon Subgroup
- April 10, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Natural and Working Lands Working Group--Land Conservation Subgroup
- Apr 12, 2024 | 1 - 3pm: Materials Management Task Force
- April 24, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Buildings, Infrastructure & Housing Working Group
- May 10, 2024 | 1 - 3pm: Materials Management Task Force
- Jun 7, 2024 | 1 - 3pm: Materials Management Task Force
- Jun 18, 2024 | 9am - 5pm: Maine Climate Council
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If you were forwarded this message, please consider signing up for our newsletter at MaineWontWait.org (link).
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