Maine Partners for Cool Communities

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has awarded the first round of grants to Maine communities under the State of Maine Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The $9.5 million dollars for the program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and was established by Congress to assist communities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and energy costs in various sectors including building and transportation.

Of the 94 Maine communities that submitted applications, 87 will receive grant dollars to complete their energy conservation projects for a total of $3.9 million dollars. Towns either applied for a competitive custom grant (capped at $85,000 for an individual municipality or $500,000 for a region) or for a non-competitive template grant of $10,000 to assist communities in the initial stages of conservation planning and energy inventories.

These much needed funds will help communities accomplish their energy reduction goals by funding municipal and residential energy audits and energy retrofitting, local renewable energy projects and energy efficient lighting, helping to implement sensible transportation solutions that reduce traffic congestion and promote more efficient modes of transportation, providing resources for compiling data on energy and carbon use and for energy planning.

This is a huge benefit to communities that for years have been working to find local solutions that save money and energy and also for those communities who are just getting started. Many of Maine’s 26 Cool Communities received grant money to continue the great efforts, while some towns who have no energy or environmental committee at all can use the grant funds to launch a formal planning process.

Barbara DiBiase, sustainability coordinator for Cool Falmouth, one of the towns that was awarded a custom grant said,

“I am thrilled that Falmouth was awarded this grant. Like many towns in Maine, Falmouth has been working very hard to identify and implement energy saving solutions and this grant will help us achieve many of our goals. The most exciting part is that this program will mobilize more communities in doing their part to reduce energy and global warming pollution. We are going to see many great things happening this year”.

Other Cool Communities that were awarded custom grants are Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Fort Kent, Kennebunk, Montville, Pittsfield, Saco, Waterville, and Yarmouth. Together they will reduce their carbon emissions by approximately 11,300 metric tons in just one year through projects funded by this grant.  Congratulations to all of the Maine Cool Communities!

For more information please call Sandy Amborn, Cool Communities Outreach Coordinator @ 761-5616 or write sandyamborn@yahoo.com.