Dear Friend,

With exciting news on heat pumps, advancement of offshore wind, a new flood resource webpage, upcoming webinars, and new Maine Stories, there's a lot is going on this month to share. 

First off, we're excited to share our latest update to our popular Mainer's Guide to Climate Incentives, an 8-page resource outlining financial support from state and federal programs that can help you make smart, climate-friendly investments in your home, vehicle, business, and community.

Included in this update is a new guide for municipalities and schools, to help navigate state and federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act to increase enegy efficency, transition to renewable energy or electric vehicles, and more. 

Download the (PDF) to get all this information one place, including FAQs and a Getting Started Checklist. 

You can also forward or share to your networks here.

Sears Island is Preferred Site for Port to Support Floating Offshore Wind

Governor Janet Mills announced last week that the State of Maine has selected a section of state-owned Sears Island that is reserved for port development as its preferred site for a port facility to support the floating offshore wind industry.

The selection of the site follows an extensive public stakeholder process led by the Maine Department of Transportation and Maine Port Authority to consider the State’s primary port development options, including multiple potential sites in the Port of Searsport, the Port of Eastport, and the Port of Portland.

The Maine Offshore Wind Roadmap, released one year ago, determined a port facility is a priority for unlocking Maine’s opportunity in offshore wind to create good-paying jobs, spurring broad economic development, and generating abundant clean electricity to stabilize energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Maine Stories: Fighting Climate Change with Food

Thanks to UMaine senior Kate Flynn, 22, and ongoing work at the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, there’s a popular new hangout on campus that’s created a tasty way for students and staff to help mitigate climate change.

The new Community Fridge near the Bear’s Den, which opened in October, offers up free food for anyone who wants or needs it.  It’s stocked by UMaine’s dining partner, Sodexo Dining Services. Commonly stocked items include unsold sandwiches, baked goods, and other food options that would otherwise go to waste, in a location that is convenient to students commuting to and from school at any hour. This can be particularly beneficial to students unexpectedly on campus late or passing through the student commuter hub on their way in or off campus.

New Maine Flood Resources and Assistance Hub

The State of Maine has created a new long-term resource online to help Mainers navigate recovery from recent flood events. The site, www.maine.gov/flood/home, contains state and federal resources to help Maine people and businesses recover from flooding and damage caused by the severe storms of December 2023 and January 2024. 

The site includes an interactive map showing available disaster assistance by county. It will be updated with new information as it becomes available.

$10 Million Federal Grant will Support Energy Efficiency and Workforce Investments in Rural Maine

Governor Janet Mills announced this week that that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $10 million to the State of Maine to support the installation of high-efficiency heat pump systems in approximately 675 rural mobile and manufactured homes in Maine and expand workforce training for local installers to do the work.

This initiative, among the first of its kind in the country, is the result of a partnership between Efficiency Maine, the Governor’s Energy Office and MaineHousing focusing on the specific needs of residents in mobile and manufactured homes, who have been subject to high and volatile prices for heating fuels, especially kerosene, over the past two years.

Special Resilience Meeting now available on YouTube 

On January 23, 2024, 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, the January conversation is the foundation for developing broad-based strategies to make our people, communities, infrastructure, and economy more resilient to the effects of climate change. 

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 still has one opportunity, The Community Action Grants, open for applications, which are due March 29, 2024. 

In addition to grant applications, the Community Resilience Partnership's Annual Report is now available online. You can read it here.

Climate + Maine's Environment: A Youth-Centered Discussion Session

Interested in a youth-centered space to learn about the work underway to protect Maine's environment and lower greenhouse gas emissions? Want to offer feedback that will be directly brought to the Maine Climate Council? Join the Council’s Youth Representatives on Wednesday, March 13th at 5pm to discuss the current work to update the state’s climate action plan, Maine Won’t Wait.

• Feb 29, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Community Resilience Working Group

• Feb 29, 2024 | 2 - 3pm: Coastal & Marine Working Group -- Working Waterfront/Infrastructure Subgroup
• Feb 28, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Natural and Working Lands Working Group--Local Food Subgroup
• Mar 1, 2024 | 11am - 1pm: Energy Working Group
• Mar 6, 2024 | 9am-12pm: Natural and Working Lands Working Group--Forest Carbon Subgroup
• Mar 8, 2024 | 10am - 12pm: Buildings, Infrastructure & Housing Working Group
• Mar 13, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Natural and Working Lands Working Group--Land Conservation Subgroup
• Mar 13, 2024 | 1 - 4pm: Transportation Working Group
• Mar 13, 2024 | 2 - 3pm: Coastal & Marine Working Group -- Fisheries/Aquaculture Subgroup
• Mar 13, 2024 | 4 - 5pm: Coastal & Marine Working Group -- Working Waterfront/Infrastructure Subgroup
• Mar 13, 2024 | 5 - 6pm: Climate + Maine's Environment: A Conversation with the Maine Climate Council's Youth Representatives
• Mar 14, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Maine Climate Council
• Mar 19, 2024 | 12 - 4pm: Coastal & Marine Working Group
• Mar 20, 2024 | 2 - 5pm: Buildings, Infrastructure & Housing Working Group
• Mar 21, 2024 | 9am - 12pm: Natural and Working Lands Working Group--Local Food Subgroup
• 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