June 2024 Program Updates

Climate Action Plan Cohort: Plans Adopted!

Since 2022, SMPDC has been working to support four towns in the development of individual Climate Action Plans. The collaborative CAP Cohort process is wrapping up, and each of the four communities has adopted a successful plan informed and supported by each others efforts.

Kittery: We helped the Town of Kittery finalize and publish their Climate Action Plan. The Kittery Climate Adaptation Committee shared the final plan in a presentation to Kittery Town Council on June 10^th.

Kennebunk: On May 14^th Kennebunk’s Selectboard unanimously passed the Kennebunk Climate Action Plan. Kennebunk is in the process of forming a new committee to help with CAP implementation in the coming years.

Kennebunkport: After the adoption of the Kennebunkport CAP strategies in March, Kennebunkport created a new committee to lead CAP implementation. The Climate Resiliency committee is charged with completing the research and analysis necessary to support the Select Board and Town Management in making decisions in support of the Climate Action Plan.

Biddeford: Biddeford is in the process of establishing a permanent Sustainability Commission to lead CAP implementation. Currently, an ad hoc Sustainability Committee is reviewing the draft ordinance and providing CAP implementation assistance until the Commission is established.

New England Municipal Sustainability Network Meeting

The Sustainability and Resiliency team attended the New England Municipal Sustainability (NEMS) Network conference in Northampton, Massachusetts early this month. NEMS allows communities across New England to connect and collaborate with one another on their municipal level sustainability projects. The focus of the conference was energy policy and advocacy and included discussions of municipalities’ current energy related projects, a presentation from Joe Russo of the Acadia Center, and a visit to ISO New England. ISO New England is responsible for ensuring all six New England states have constant and reliable electricity. Learn more here!

Maine Won't Wait Publishes New Draft Strategies and Climate Info

On June 18, 2024, The Maine Climate Council working groups presented draft climate strategies for potential inclusion in the 2024 update of Maine Won’t Wait, Maine’s 4-year climate action plan.

The scientific and technical subcommittee also released the 2024 updated to the Scientific Assessment of Climate Change and Its Effects in Maine. The report details the ways that climate change is impacting Maine and includes new data and analyses from the past four years.

The Council is seeking input and feedback on the draft recommendations to help in the update to Maine Won't Wait. To provide your input and participate, in this process, complete the strategy survey linked below.

Provide your input by completing the strategy survey!

Ogunquit Nature-Based Solutions Project is Underway

During the summer of 2023, the Town of Ogunquit was awarded a Coastal Community Grant by the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The project, ‘Nature-Based Solutions for Stormwater Management and Erosion Control at the Main Beach Parking Lot,’ which intends to identify solutions to the reoccurring flooding and dune erosion concerns at one of the town’s most popular beach destinations, is funded through December 2024.

In late April, GEI Consulting conducted an existing conditions assessment of the Main Beach parking lot area and the riverside. On June 13, SMPDC in conjunction with the Town of Ogunquit and GEI Consulting held a community engagement event to gather residents’ feedback on the town’s coastal resiliency project. In the community meeting this month, GEI explained their findings and solicited feedback from the community. They also led a walking tour of the project site, providing additional information on current site conditions. GEI will incorporate this initial feedback into their draft feasibility report of potential nature-base solutions to implement. They will also continue to collect community feedback throughout the summer.

RSRP Meets with Central Maine Power

Representatives from Central Maine Power joined our recent programs update meeting to discuss CMP’s efforts to enhance grid resiliency and improve electricity reliability. In addition to SMPDC’s Sustainability team, representatives from our six program towns and York County EMA were in attendance. Discussions included updates on grid planning and upcoming improvements. Program towns were also able to voice their concerns and ask question important questions. This dialogue is helpful for informing SMPDC's regional grid resiliency project, which is currently being developed.

New Eliot Coastal Climate Vulnerability Assessment Underway

SMPDC is partnering with FB Environmental to conduct a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Town of Eliot. The assessment will evaluate the climate hazards that pose a risk to the Town and the impacts they might have on infrastructure, ecosystems, public health, and community services. We are very excited to have the support of Michal Zahorik, a UNH Sustainability Fellow and PHD candidate. Michal will help us explore how social vulnerabilities may be exacerbated by climate change in Eliot.

For this project we’re using our Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment framework and template developed through the Southern Maine Climate Action Planning Cohort. See these resources and other CAP resources on the SMPDC CAP Toolkit.

Service Provider Grant Updates

South Berwick has picked September 17th as their workshop date, and is working with SMPDC to complete their self-evaluation and list of community actions. Discussions of potential projects have already begun between SMPDC and town staff.

Alfred has begun work on their self-evaluation and list of actions, as well as identifying possible projects as they prepared for June's town meeting.

Hollis has engaged their Conservation Committee in the enrollment process and the drafting of a list of possible projects. Community leads have decided to hold their public workshop on August 10th, during Hollis's Community Days.

Parsonsfield has been engaging the select board and community members in the initial steps of enrollment. Community leads are working with SMPDC to finalize their self-evaluation and plan for their public workshop this fall.

Trainings and Resources

Maine Department of Transportation held a webinar this month to provide additional information for applying to The Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund, as well as the Municipal Stream Crossing Grant. The recording can be accessed here. Reminder, MIAF and MSCG applications are due July 1, 2024.

Gulf of Maine Resource Institute is hosting a webinar on how to use their Climate Adaptation Resource Hub for Fishing Communities that launched earlier this year. The webinar is July 16^th at 2pm. Register here.

At the end of last month, Governor Mills established the Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission. The commission held their first meeting on June 26^th, and details and a recording will be available here.

The Department of Energy recorded two webinars to provide information about the Direct Pay options for funding energy improvements in schools and nonprofits. Direct Pay applies to clean energy machines such as geothermal heat pumps, solar energy, energy storage, clean commercial vehicles, and in specific locations, EV chargers. The first webinar, 101 “Beyond Grants”, gives a high-level overview of Direct Pay for schools and nonprofits. The second, 201 “Going Deeper”, provides more depth about important terms and concepts related to these tax credits.

Funding Opportunities

Efficiency Maine has an active funding opportunity to help electrify municipal buildings. They are seeking applications for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and water heating projects within municipal buildings. Eligible communities are those with a population between 5,000 and 10,000 residents. Additional information, including a list of eligible towns, can be found here. The application deadline is October 1, 2024.

The fall round of applications for the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund (MOHF) has started. MOHF helps fund wildlife and conservation projects throughout the state to help maintain, improve and expand the state and local conservation programs. Summary application forms are due July 15^th. The form can be found here, and additional information about the fund can be accessed here.

MaineDOT’s Small Harbor Improvement Program is currently accepting applications. The program aims to promote economic development, public access, improved commercial fishing opportunities and to preserve and create infrastructure at facilities in tidewater and coastal municipalities. Through this program, municipalities can receive assistance to improve or create facilities, such as public wharves, piers, landings and boat ramps. There is a required 50% local share under this program. This program has a rolling application, and additional information can be found here.

The ReMaine Clean Energy Internship Program places entry-level candidates interested in clean energy field, in short term (240 hour) roles with Maine employers. The program also subsidizes 50% of the intern’s wages. Learn more about the program here, and to apply to host an intern email: remaine@neep.org

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