SMPDC welcomes 2026 Resilience Corps Fellow Ava Moseley! Ava will assist with our Energy Navigator Program, providing technical and financial support for home electrification and weatherization.

Prior to joining the Resilience Corps, Ava worked as a GIS intern with the Town of Cumberland, supporting a range of sustainability and planning initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies from Middlebury College. As part of her studies, Ava researched the feasibility of networked geothermal in Vermont, used remote sensing techniques to examine land-cover change in Hokkaido, Japan, and monitored ecological restoration projects while studying abroad in Valdivia, Chile.

We are excited to have Ava on board!

This month we’re finalizing the regional energy resilience plan, Bright Ideas for a Stormy Future: Strengthening Southern Maine’s Resilience to Power Outages.

The plan includes four objectives to address the priorities of southern Maine’s businesses, municipal staff, community members and regional partners:

1. Reduce outage frequency and duration in the face of existing hazards and emerging threats such as extreme heat and flooding.
2. Improve communication between municipalities, the utilities, and emergency managers, especially during recovery from outages.
3. Provide greater assistance to communities, local businesses and households to manage outages.
4. Ensure grid resilience is incorporated into regional and state economic development efforts.

Join us!

Upcoming opportunities to engage and learn more:

Workshop: Power Outage Communications

Join SMPDC and York County EMA to learn about communication during storm events and discuss challenges and opportunities. Option to tour YCEMA's facilities and incident response vehicles.

• When: Tuesday, February 24, 2:00 - 4:00pm
• Where: in person at York County Emergency Management Agency (149 Jordan Springs Rd, Alfred, ME 04002)
• Who: Municipal leaders and emergency management staff; local, county, and state representatives
• Learn more & register

Webinar: Let’s Talk about Microgrids and Backup Power

Have you heard of microgrids but wondered what they are? Interested in learning if solar and battery could be a back-up power solution for your facility? Join us for an overview of microgrids and alternative back up power solutions!

• When: Monday, March 2, 3:00 - 4:00pm
• Where: Online via Zoom
• Register here

Talk: Bright Ideas for a Stormy Future

Join SMPDC to learn about the regional energy resilience plan and the actions southern Maine will take to improve energy resilience.

• When: Monday, April 6, 3:00 - 4:00pm
• Where: Online via Zoom and in-person at 107 Norman Smith Hall, UMaine, Orono
• Learn more & register

In its first 6 months, the Southern Maine Energy Navigator Program:

• Assisted 31 homeowners
• Completed 7 weatherization and/or heat pump installations, with 12 in progress
• Provided $56,376 in funding
• Secured $50,000 in Efficiency Maine rebates for clients

Webinar recording available!

How to Read Your Electric Bill

Co-hosted with Maine Community Power Cooperative and Maine Conservation Voters

This webinar gives an overview of the history and context for Maine's electric grid, what you see when you open your electric bill, and the factors that affect rate changes.

The Maine Department of Transportation has released some exciting funding opportunities for municipalities looking to strengthen their infrastructure and improve climate resilience:

Now Open! Maine Public Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund

Supporting projects that adapt existing public working waterfront infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to climate change, sea level rise, coastal flooding, and other impacts. Administered by MaineDOT. A minimum 5% local match is required. Applications are due March 11.

Coming Soon: Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (MIAF)

Funding to help communities adapt critical infrastructure such as roads, culverts, stormwater systems, and wastewater facilities to reduce vulnerability to climate change. Administered by MaineDOT. The next application round is expected to open in March 2026, with proposals anticipated to be due in May 2026.

Considering applying for these or other funding opportunities? Get in touch! We are here to help with project scoping, application assistance, and more. Reach out to SMPDC’s Regional Coordinator Melanie Nash at mnash@smpdc.org. 

Scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter for more funding opportunities.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law

• Intended to incentivize more sustainable packaging and help offset municipalities’ recycling costs
• 2026 marks the start of implementation
• Beginning in the fall of 2027, participating municipalities will receive reimbursement for eligible recycling costs

What do municipalities need to do?

• Begin recording recycling-related expenses, including labor, equipment, and energy costs in order to be eligible for reimbursement

View the EPR Guide for Maine Municipalities.

Responsible Outdoor Lighting Law (LD 1934)

• Sets standards for public outdoor lighting, including color temperature limits, shielding for certain fixtures, and managing nonessential lighting
• Became law last month

What do municipalities need to do?

• Comply with the requirements for new/replaced public outdoor lighting starting October 1, 2026
• Adopt a local ordinance by the end of 2028
• The Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) is expected to develop and share a model ordinance later this year

Living Shoreline Planning Series – Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Apply to receive free training and technical assistance for identifying and developing a conceptual design for a living shoreline. Up to 10 applicants from across New England will be selected to participate. Consists of five online learning-facilitation sessions and one in-person site visit. Applications due March 3, 2026. Learn more.

Maine Coastal Program Habitat Restoration Planning Grant – Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA)

One-time funding opportunity for coastal habitat restoration planning projects. Eligible applicants include municipalities, unorganized townships, and Tribal Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Regional Planning Organizations. Max award $100,000. No match required. Applications due March 6, 2026. Learn more.

Public Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund – MaineDOT, Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), and Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA)

Supporting projects that make public working waterfronts more resilient to climate change, sea level rise, and flooding. Examples of eligible projects include elevating, designing, strengthening, or relocating infrastructure to improve long-term function and accessibility for commercial and recreational use. At least 5% local match is required. Applications due March 11, 2026. Contact Sierra Millay, Resource Management Coordinator at MaineDOT with questions (Adaptation.DOT@maine.gov). Learn more.

School Lighting Retrofits – Efficiency Maine

Seeking applications for energy efficiency projects involving lighting retrofits in Maine public PreK-12 schools. Offers incentives that are 30% higher than typical, with the intent of accelerating the conversion to LED lighting. Applications due June 30, 2026. Learn more.

Coming soon! York River Watershed Grants Program – York River Stewardship Committee

Annual funding opportunity to support projects that protect or enhance the York River Watershed. Request for proposals expected at the end of February 2026.



Coming Soon! Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (MIAF) – MaineDOT

Funding to help communities adapt critical infrastructure – such as roads, culverts, stormwater systems, and wastewater facilities – to reduce vulnerability to climate change. Communities are encouraged to work with your Regional Coordinator to begin identifying potential projects. Application round expected to open in March 2026, anticipated due date May 2026. Download a list of past projects. MIAF Informational Sheet PDF. Informational workshop recording and resources.

Want more info on funding opportunities?

The Southern & Midcoast Resilience Coordinator Collaborative (SMRCC) compiles a comprehensive, up-to-date list of grant opportunities to support community resilience projects.

Interested in applying for funding but need guidance? We are here to help as your Regional Coordinator! Contact Melanie Nash at mnash@smpdc.org.