That is the primary weblog submit in a sequence that may illuminate the methods federal funding has allowed Maine to efficiently full local weather and clear power initiatives; the initiatives which can be underway with funding coming down the pipeline; and the wants that also exist for continued local weather and clear power work. 

The processes and negotiations in Congress across the proposed $550 billion in federal local weather funding have created loads of noise, however by all of it, one truth has remained plain: we have to spend money on local weather, and we have to do it now. 

The world’s scientists, together with these on the College of Maine, have made clear, with rising urgency, that we should transition to wash power from fossil fuels instantly to be able to keep away from the worst outcomes of local weather change.  

Federal motion on local weather is crucial as a result of it should give Maine the instruments and sources we have to meet the state’s bold local weather objectives set by bipartisan majorities of lawmakers. Happily, the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Regulation have laid the groundwork for progress, each of which have offered important funding to states which have confirmed that federal funding in local weather delivers a variety of advantages to Maine’s folks, setting, and communities.  

Beneath we spotlight how Maine has already put federal funding to work on clear power growth to profit native companies and entrepreneurs. Maine’s Local weather Motion Plan units objectives to attain 80% renewable power use by 2030 and 100% by 2050. We’ve work to do to get there, however photo voltaic and offshore wind are quickly on their method to offering the native, dependable, and reasonably priced clear power Maine wants to exchange fossil fuels. 

Let’s check out some latest clear power initiatives to have fun in Maine. 

Stanley Subaru obtained a Rural Vitality for America Program (REAP) grant in 2021 that enabled the set up of 343 photo voltaic panels on its dealership in Trenton. The panels now produce 168.88 MWh of electrical energy per 12 months, totally offsetting the enterprise’s power utilization with out producing climate-polluting carbon emissions. Stanley Subaru is proud to be a frontrunner in sustainability amongst the Maine enterprise group and hopes to see different companies observe swimsuit within the coming years.

TruStrength Athletics in Norway, Maine, additionally selected to go photo voltaic by the REAP program, offering renewable power for its members as the corporate seeks to emphasise the necessary connection between clear power and private well being. Clear power is a vital a part of a wholesome life-style and a productive enterprise, lowering air air pollution and decreasing month-to-month electrical payments.

Fogtown Brewing in Ellsworth now boasts 57 rooftop photo voltaic panels because of the 2019 spherical of REAP grants. The panels generate about 20 MWh yearly, offsetting 73% of the brewery’s electrical energy utilization and saving extra on electrical payments than the enterprise’s mortgage funds, primarily zeroing out buy and set up prices proper from the get-go. Maine breweries have emerged as a beacon of social and ecological accountability, and Fogtown has stepped into the highlight as a frontrunner within the clear power enterprise group.

In Maine, we’re already feeling the results of local weather change, and we all know that a point of further warming is inevitable given our historic emissions. So, we have to pair clear power growth with methods to bolster pure and group resilience to maintain Maine’s human and environmental populations completely satisfied and wholesome. Hold an eye fixed out for our subsequent weblog that includes profitable, federally funded group and pure resilience initiatives across the state!

—by Anya Fetcher, Federal Coverage Advocate, and Josh Caldwell, Local weather & Clear Vitality Outreach Coordinator