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Keep ME Warm Brochures Available to Connect Mainers to Energy Tips and Assistance

September 30, 2008

AUGUSTA - Governor John E. Baldacci announced the fifth year of Keep ME Warm, an outreach initiative to help Maine citizens prepare for the cold winter months. The Governor’s Office began distributing Keep ME Warm brochures to partner organizations this week.

“The State of Maine has been working for months to ensure that residents are able to stay safe in their homes this winter,” said Governor Baldacci. “This is another way to get information out to all Mainers about important steps they can take to conserve energy, to obtain energy assistance and to help each other in these difficult times.”

Last month, Governor Baldacci announced his short-term energy plan to help all Mainers meet the challenges of the upcoming winter. To aid in keeping people safe and secure in their homes, the Governor put forward a $12.585 million plan including new investments in weatherization, alternative modes of transportation, voluntary alternative work schedules for State employees, business development, training and education.

A compilation of resources and information on keeping warm this winter is on the State of Maine Web site. The Keep ME Warm brochures specifically point to energy saving tips, the expanded 2-1-1 system as a single point of contact for energy assistance calls, and ways Mainers can help each other, including donating to the Keep ME Warm Fund and volunteering with a local response team.

The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, in conjunction with the Maine Public Utilities Commission, MaineHousing, Maine Community Action Association, Maine State Planning Office, 2-1-1 Maine, United Ways of Maine and the Maine Commission for Community Service have joined in this effort to help Maine citizens. Brochures can be obtained at local Community Action agencies, town offices, certain charitable organizations, Maine CareerCenters and state general assistance offices. Brochures can also be downloaded from the Governor’s Web page or by calling the Governor’s Office at 287-3531.

The Governor said that as the season changes, all Mainers can explore ways they can address potentially high heating costs this year. The Governor is hosting a statewide energy savings tips seminar at 6:30 p.m. at each community college campus on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The program is free and open to the public, offering low-cost, do-it-yourself tips to weatherize buildings.

For more information on the Oct. 1 event, please call 629-4000 or visit http://winter.mccs.me.edu

Mainers can also obtain information from the Governor’s Web site at http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/policy/energy.shtml

The Governor also welcomed news that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR campaign is expanding its efforts to inform Americans about steps they can take to save energy and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. More information on the federal initiative can be found at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=globalwarming.showPledgeHome