Last week, the Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) and Office of Policy Innovation and the Future jointly presented to the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities, and Technology (EUT) Committee a report outlining a four-year funding plan for Maine’s climate action plan. As required by 38 M.R.S. § 576‑A, Maine’s climate action plan, “Maine Won’t Wait,” sets the State on a path to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% as of 2030, and for 80% reductions by 2050.
The four-year funding report, entitled New Funding Proposals to Support Climate Action, identifies how three recently approved funding streams will help Maine achieve its climate change mitigation and adaptation targets:
- The Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan for over $1 billion in federal relief funds;
- $140 million bond package presented by Governor Mills; and
- State of Maine Supplemental Budget (FY 2022-2023)
Among other priorities, the electrification of the transportation sector is the focus for over $160M of the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, including the following three initiatives:
- Establishing the Maine Connectivity Authority to ensure universal access to broadband ($150M);
- Launching a workforce transportation pilot ($5M); and
- Expanding municipal and public electric vehicle charging stations ($8M)
The Governor’s bond package and the State’s Supplemental Budget also fund climate change adaptation and mitigation investments in improving rural transit, broadband, and land and water conservation.
A summary of the GEO’s and Office of Policy Innovation and the Future’s presentation to the EUT is available here.
