Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future

The state’s updated four-year action plan, Maine Won’t Wait, is out! It recommends commonsense strategies to advance the state’s work in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, achieving carbon neutrality, strengthening resilience to the impacts of climate change, and growing Maine’s economy through new good-paying, green jobs. https://loom.ly/3KPjzZ8

Applications are now being accepted for the position of policy analyst with the Office of New Americans, under the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. See below for the job description and how to apply. https://loom.ly/Ildy1xk

On October 4th, Governor Janet Mills and Maine Governor's Energy Office announced that the share of Maine households reliant on oil as their primary heat source fell by more than six percent between 2022 and 2023, the largest year over year decrease since at least 2010, according to new federal data. Since Governor Mills took office, the state's heating oil reliance has dropped by nearly 16 percent. This trend is strongly correlated with an increase in the use of high-efficiency heat pumps for home heating, a direct result of the Mills Administration's efforts to expand access to energy-efficient technology in Maine. Currently, Maine has installed over 115,000 heat pumps since 2019, and has nearly 700 registered installers across the state helping residents transition to heat pumps.

Earlier this week, Governor Janet Mills attended the “We Own It” celebration to mark the purchase of the Linnhaven Mobile Home Park in Brunswick by its residents. It's the first deal of its kind under a new law signed last year by the Governor. The landmark Opportunity to Purchase Law requires mobile home park owners to provide advance notice to residents of their intent to sell, and provides a pathway for residents to make a good-faith offer and secure financing. The Mills Administration also contributed a $3.2 million grant in support of the purchase from the Mobile Home Community Preservation Fund, recently created in partnership with the Legislature. "May the example you have set be replicated across our state, and across the country, until every person has the same lasting foundation and safe and affordable place to live as you do.“

Last day to enter! Climate&Me, our youth-focused climate action initiative, has extended the deadline to October 15th for artwork submissions from Maine children and youth between the ages of 9 and 22. Selected artists will be included in the updated Maine Won't Wait climate action plan's printed and online versions and featured on the Maine Won't Wait website and social media channels. Create work using one of these three themes: ??Climate solutions ??Resilient Maine ??Envisioning Maine's Climate Future For more information and guidelines and to enter submissions, visit: https://loom.ly/f42Uyg8

Attention service providers! The Community Resilience Partnership recently announced its most significant round of grant funding ever, including two tracks of Service Provider Grants. The application deadline is November 8th, 2024. We need you to help reach Governor Mills's goal of 275 participating communities. Just 50 more to go! Learn more on the website, or contact Ashley Krulik at ashley.krulik(at)maine(dot)gov for more information on how your community can be a part of it. https://loom.ly/nnTU4FY (Photo credit: @ClimateInitiative)

Only a few days left to enter! Climate&Me, our youth-focused climate action initiative, has extended the deadline to October 15th for artwork submissions from Maine children and youth between the ages of 9 and 22. Selected artists will be included in the updated Maine Won't Wait climate action plan's printed and online versions and featured on the Maine Won't Wait website and social media channels. Create work using one of these three themes: ??Climate solutions ??Resilient Maine ??Envisioning Maine's Climate Future For more information and guidelines and to enter submissions, visit: https://loom.ly/f42Uyg8

Governor Janet Mills Governor Janet Mills and a delegation of State of Maine officials today completed their weeklong international mission to Norway and Denmark focused on positioning Maine as a leader in the responsible development and deployment of floating offshore wind. The delegation, including GOPIF director Hannah Pingree and leadership from the Maine Governor's Energy Office visited the port city of Esbjerg yesterday in southwest Denmark. There, they saw firsthand how the port supports the marshaling, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind components and the many jobs the industry supports—all of which are informative as we pursue a port in Maine.

GOPIF's youth climate engagement coordinator, Abigail Hayne (center right), had a wonderful time at the Maine Youth Climate Symposium yesterday! Abigail was a speaker in a panel on political action with Senator Mattie Daughtry. Organized by retired Wiscasset High School Teacher, Ralph Keyes, and hosted by @BowdoinCollege , this was an action-packed day for Maine students to dive deep into climate action. FOUR Maine Climate Council Youth Representatives were in attendance, and the featured speaker was Dr. Susie Arnold (of the @Island Institute), who serves on the Council as well!

ART CHALLENGE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED! Climate&Me, our youth-focused climate action initiative, has extended the deadline to October 15th for artwork submissions from Maine children and youth between the ages of 9 and 22. Selected artists will be included in the updated Maine Won't Wait climate action plan's printed and online versions and featured on the Maine Won't Wait website and social media channels. Create work using one of these three themes: ??Climate solutions ??Resilient Maine ??Envisioning Maine's Climate Future For more information and guidelines and to enter submissions, visit: https://loom.ly/f42Uyg8