Dear Friend of MCV,

It is urgent that we address the climate crisis right now. The cost of doing nothing is too great for Maine’s ecosystems, species, infrastructure, and public health.

Maine needs to add significant human resources to move climate action strategies forward. The greatest opportunity for engaging in this work with a large group of citizens representing all ages, abilities, and background lies with a Climate Corps.

At the end of the last legislative session, funding was secured for four Climate Corps service members and one Climate Corps leadership position. This pilot project will begin in May with four service members focused on reducing energy costs of low-income households. Service members will engage the community in energy education, collect energy usage data, analyze energy savings, and create instructional videos for clients.

The pilot project will help some of Maine's most rural and marginalized communities address the climate crisis. Members will receive a livable wage, leading to more equity in who can serve, and on-the-job training and certifications needed to work at energy efficiency companies.

At this time, it is up to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs to implement Maine’s Climate Corps on a larger scale.

Action Needed:
Please consider testifying [[link removed]] in support of LD 142 [[link removed]] , which will fund four Maine Climate Corps leadership positions and 50 participants of the Maine Climate Corps program.

Establishing a Maine Climate Corps program does require state funding. Yet, the cost of doing nothing is far greater for Maine's people and environment.

Copy the template at the bottom of this email to draft your testimony .

Click here to submit your testimony [[link removed]] [[link removed]] then select:
“Public Hearing”
“Education and Cultural Affairs”
“Jan 31 2023 1:00 PM”
“LD 142: An Act to Fund Climate-related Work"
Upload your testimony or paste it in the box.
Enter your information and hit submit.

Talking points to help guide your testimony:

Maine Climate Corps will:
Provide the human power to conduct climate projects on the ground throughout the state.
Help mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
Strengthen our state's communities and support historically marginalized populations facing the impacts of climate change.
Provide a living allowance at a livable wage for service members and the certification and/or job training in the environmental and clean energy sectors to kick-start careers.

Thank you so much for using your voice to make an impact,

Stacie Haines | she/her
Development Director
Maine Conservation Voters
[email protected]
P.S. After you submit your testimony please let us know [[link removed]] and we will keep you informed as LD 142 progresses.

CLICK HERE AFTER SUBMITTING TESTIMONY [[link removed]]

TEMPLATE FOR WRITTEN TESTIMONY
Testimony in support of LD 142, An Act to Fund Climate-related Service Work
To: Sen. Joseph Rafferty, Representative Michael Brennan, and Members of the Committee On Education and Cultural Affairs From: ( YOUR NAME, TOWN, ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATION IF RELEVANT )
Dear Senator Rafferty, Representative Brennan and members of the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, my name is (your name) and I live in (your town) . [If you are testifying on behalf of an organization, state that here]. [State your profession and/or other identities. Ex: I am a teacher AND/OR I am a hunter and angler - tie your testimony back to these identities if possible]. I am writing to testify in support of LD 142.
[ Your testimony can be as short or as long as you’d like, but a page is a good target ]
[Succinctly summarize your points] . Thank you for reading my testimony.

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