Communities around Maine are taking decisive action on climate change, from electrifying transit and school buses, to weatherizing public buildings, preparing climate action plans and improving vulnerable infrastructure.
There are many different ways to get started. Some communities start with cost-saving “no-regrets” projects like converting indoor lighting and streetlights to LED bulbs or installing energy efficient heat pumps in public buildings. Other communities start with robust public dialog and organization that culminates in a call for action. Still other communities will pursue a comprehensive climate action planning process that lays out a clear path forward. All of these are examples of viable and useful starting points from actual communities in Maine.
Learn more below about climate actions that communities are taking with support from the Partnership’s grants. Then read more Maine Stories of community climate action at MaineWontWait.org.
Community Action Grant Awards (Spring 2022)
| Community | Project | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Bangor | Electrifying Bangor's Transportation Network and Addressing Community Vulnerability and Resilience | $50,000 |
| Bar Harbor, Mount Desert & Tremont |
Climate Action Plan Community Engagement and Public EV Charger implementation | $91,722 |
| Bath | Resilient Bath and update of City’s Climate Action Plan | $50,000 |
| Biddeford, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, & Kittery |
Local Climate Action Planning Cohort |
$99,600 |
| Bridgton | Town of Bridgton Open Space Plan | $50,000 |
| Camden | Electric School Bus Purchase for MSAD #28 Transportation Fleet | $50,000 |
| Carrabassett Valley | Installation of EV Charging Stations | $40,159 |
| Deer Isle | Deer Isle Plan for Climate Action | $50,000 |
| Dover-Foxcroft | A Plan to Reduce Public Health Risk for Vulnerable Populations during Extreme Temperature Events | $50,000 |
| Falmouth | Strategic Watershed Plan: Geomorphic Data Collection and Assessment and Educational Campaign | $50,000 |
| Limestone | Purchase and Maintain a Solar Power Generation System | $50,000 |
| Machias | Upper Machias Bay Resiliency Plan | $45,000 |
| Norway | Laying the Groundwork for Comprehensive Climate Action in Norway | $50,000 |
| Orono | Town of Orono’s Multi-tiered Approach to Baseline Data and Community Education on Greenhouse Gas Emissions | $50,000 |
| Portland | Climate Resiliency Zoning Project | $50,000 |
| Rockland | Climate Ready Infrastructure for Rockland’s Downtown Waterfront | $50,000 |
| Saco | Saco Climate Adaptation Action Plan | $50,000 |
| Scarborough | Climate-Ready Infrastructure: Building a Resilient Route 1 and Pine Point Road | $46,240 |
| South Portland | Street Design Technical Manual | $50,000 |
| Topsham | Municipal Complex LED Upgrades | $46,000 |
| Vinalhaven | Downtown Project Stormwater Management Design | $50,000 |
| Waterford | Town Hall/Fire House Heat Pumps and Center of Refuge & Community Garden & Education Program | $48,440 |
| Whiting | Complete Maine Flood Protection Checklist and Develop Community-wide Communications System | $26,750 |
| Windham | Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Emission Reduction Targets | $20,000 |
Service Provider Grants (Spring 2022)
| Organization | Communities | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments | Carthage, Jay, Chesterville Greenwood |
$47,000 |
| Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System | Dixmont, Old Town | $22,500 |
| Center for an Ecology-based Economy | South Paris, Otisfield Woodstock, Bethel | $50,000 |
| Greater Portland Council of Governments | Freeport, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Cumberland Brunswick |
$50,000 |
| Island Institute | Chebeague Island, Long Island, Monhegan Island | $37,458 |
| Kennebec Valley Council of Governments | Fairfield, Randolph, Skowhegan, Unity Waterville |
$62,500 |
| Resilience Works, LLC | Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville Penobscot, Sedgwick |
$62,475 |
| Resilient Communities, L3C | North Haven, Islesboro | $17,850 |
| Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission | Eliot, Berwick, Fryeburg Old Orchard Beach |
$42,500 |
| Sunrise County Economic Council | Jonesport, Lubec, Danforth | $37,500 |
| University of Southern Maine | Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Westport Island, Woolwich |
$62,500 |
| Window Dressers | Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, Millinocket, Eastport |
$50,000 |