On January 13, 2026, the Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER) announced $1.2 million in grant awards to three organizations to support energy efficiency workforce training programs across Maine. These competitive grants are awarded through DOER's Clean Energy Partnership and will help meet growing demand for skilled trades, support building efficiency, and strengthen partnerships among education, industry, and communities. Awarded programs will expand Maine’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) workforce and provide upskilling opportunities for incumbent workers across the state. The programs are expected to serve as many as 1,200 total participants including new and existing professionals in the field while supporting 60 local Maine businesses. Funding for the awards is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) program.
Programs will be led by:
- The Maine Community College System (MCCS) will expand the pipeline of HVAC technicians through career exploration, pre-apprenticeship, and short-term workforce training. MCCS will also offer heat pump installation training for existing HVAC professionals. Programming will be offered at four community colleges across the state, including Bangor, Auburn, Calais, and Presque Isle.
- The Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) will provide training and industry certifications for new and incumbent workers through a combination of a virtual statewide Learning Management System, eight statewide webinars, and six in-person hands-on training sessions.
- The Maine Labor Climate Council and affiliated unions and registered apprenticeship programs will collaborate with the United Technologies Center-Region 4, Union Construction Academy of Maine pre-apprenticeship, and the Penobscot Nation to train new HVAC technicians. The unions will also provide upskilling for incumbent workers including HVAC technicians, HVAC contractors, home performance contractors, electricians, and plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, and other building trades professionals.
Advisory Committee
Maine's TREC program is overseen by an Energy Efficiency Workforce Advisory Committee, including members from industry, labor, support organizations, training and educational institutions, and state government. Committee members are listed below:
- Energy Efficiency Workforce Advisory Committee Members
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- Colin McCullough (All Around Home Performance)
- Chad Ellis (CCB, Inc)
- Tim Adams (EcoHeat Maine)
- Richard Burbank (Evergreen Home Performance)
- Kristie Green (Horizon Homes)
- Paul Laird (Laird's HVAC)
- Scott Libby (Royal River Heat Pumps)
- Josh Oxley (Logix)
- Francis Eanes (Maine Labor Climate Council)
- Jennifer Giosia (Penquis CAP)
- Donna Kelley (Waldo CAP)
- Jackie Parisi (York County Community Action)
- Bridget Gifford (Efficiency Maine)
- Daniel Estes (Maine Department of Labor)
- DeAnna Trask (MaineHousing)
- Kelly Flagg (Associated General Contractors of Maine)
- Chris Winstead (Maine Community College System)
- Megan Dichter (Maine Department of Education)
- John Leavitt (North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters)
- Derek Armstrong (UA Local 716 Maine Plumbers and Pipefitters)
Meeting Archive
- October 29, 2025: Energy Efficiency Workforce Advisory Committee Kickoff
- August 4, 2025: TREC Grant Informational Meeting
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Slides are available to view and download here.
- January 10, 2024: Draft Program Framework Meeting
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On January 10, 2024, GEO hosted a public meeting to present information regarding Maine’s application and solicit stakeholder feedback. View the meeting slides here.
- May 6, 2025: Program Kickoff Meeting
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On May 6, 2025, GEO convened a meeting of the Energy Efficiency Workforce Advisory Committee to kick off the TREC program. View the meeting slides here.
Program Background
In December 2024, the Maine Governor's Energy Office (GEO; now the Maine Department of Energy Resources) was approved for an award from the U.S. Department of Energy to administer a workforce development program called Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) to grow Maine’s energy efficiency workforce. A Request for Applications (RFA) was open for programs that advance workforce development and training in the residential energy efficiency sector. The RFA sought to:
- Increase the number of new energy efficiency workers in Maine,
- Provide upskilling opportunities for incumbent energy efficiency workers,
- Prepare contractors for businesses growth and/or delivery of home energy efficiency and electrification rebates and programs, and
- Increase the number and availability of energy efficiency workers and contractors statewide.