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Dear Friend,
Today, Governor Janet Mills announced the departure of the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future Director Hannah Pingree, who helped establish the office in 2019 and led the creation of the Maine Climate Council.
Her last day will be Friday, May 16, 2025.
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Governor Mills proposed her unique “Office of the Future” in her first inaugural address in 2019 to work in partnership with people, businesses, and communities to pursue common-sense solutions to long-term issues facing Maine. Under Pingree’s leadership, GOPIF drove Administration efforts to address climate change, increase the supply and affordability of housing, strengthen the economy and workforce, improve early childhood education and expand child care options, and support Maine people as they age.
Under Pingree's leadership, GOPIF advanced bipartisan legislation in Maine to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create the Maine Climate Council to address the impacts of climate change on Maine, meet statutory targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and support investments in communities and infrastructure.
As Council co-chair, Pingree led its development of Maine's climate action plan, Maine Won't Wait, which spurred action to curb emissions, including the installation of more than 100,000 heat pumps two years ahead of schedule, expanding programs to make homes more energy efficient, reducing Maine's dependence on heating oil, growing the clean energy economy and workforce, and investing in making communities more resilient.
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Governor Mills has named Sarah Curran (above) to succeed Pingree as Director of GOPIF. Curran has served in GOPIF since its establishment and as deputy director since 2021, during which time she has led its climate planning and community partnership programs.
She will join Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Melanie Loyzim as the new co-chair of the Climate Council.
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From left to right: Glenn Cummings, Director of Green Schools, Maine DOE; Abigail Hayne, Maine Youth Climate Engagement Coordinator, GOPIF; Robin Sidman, Executive Director, Project Green Schools; Dan Chuhta, Deputy Commissioner, Maine DOE; Michael Isenberg, Board Co-Chair, Project Green Schools
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Maine Honored by Project Green Schools with National “Difference Makers Award”
Today the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) were recognized nationally with the 2025 Difference Makers Award for their groundbreaking collaboration on the Green Schools Initiative, an ambitious statewide effort to support Maine schools in improving energy efficiency, saving public funds, and reducing pollution in the state’s pre-K through grade 12 schools.
Presented in Washington, D.C. by Project Green Schools, a nonprofit developing the next generation of environmental leaders, this award celebrates Maine’s visionary leadership in aligning education and environmental policy to improve math, science, and social studies results, reduce pollution emissions, and build climate-resilient school communities.
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2025 Waste Diversion Grants Program Announced
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The State of Maine is seeking proposals for the development, implementation or improvement of programs, projects, initiatives, or activities designed to increase the diversion of solid waste from disposal. Proposals are due June 13, 2025.
Eligible projects may include but are not limited to the following categories: solid waste diversion education, source reduction, upcycling of discarded materials, donations of food or other materials, repair and reuse projects, recycling, composting, and digestion. Projects that contain any references to disposal practices (landfilling or waste-to-energy incineration) are strongly discouraged and will be deemed ineligible for consideration.
A copy of the RFP and all related documents can be obtained here.
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Upcoming Public Webinar on Maine's New Building Codes
On Wednesday, May 21st, the Maine Fire Marshal's Office, Maine Energy Office, and the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future will host a public webinar, Maine's New Building Codes Webinar: What Communities Need to Know, from 12-1PM to discuss Maine’s new energy and building codes, which went into effect on April 7, 2025. Panelists will include Greg Gilbert with the Maine Fire Marshal's Office, and Ross Anthony from the Governor's Energy Office. Registration is available here.
High-level information about the codes will be provided along with time for audience Q&A. This is a great opportunity for residents, businesses, and municipal officials to learn more about the new codes and how to prepare for them. The new codes will create home energy savings while improving health and safety in new residential and commercial construction.
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