Does Maine Have An Energy Saving Program?

Energy saving programs provide incentives and resources to help households and businesses reduce their energy use and costs. These programs are important because they promote energy efficiency, which lowers energy bills, reduces fossil fuel consumption, and helps mitigate climate change.

In this article, we will examine the main energy saving programs available for residents and businesses in Maine. We will look at the benefits these programs provide and how Mainers can participate and take advantage of energy savings.

Maine Energy Savings Programs

Maine offers several energy efficiency programs aimed at helping residents and businesses reduce energy usage and costs. The two primary agencies administering these programs are the Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine Governor’s Energy Office.

Efficiency Maine offers a wide range of rebates, incentives, and financing options for energy efficient improvements in homes and businesses across the state. Key programs include discounts on ENERGY STAR certified appliances, rebates for insulation, air sealing, and efficient heating systems in residential settings, and rebates for lighting, HVAC, compressed air, and other systems in commercial facilities.

The Governor’s Energy Office oversees additional programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which provides no-cost weatherization services and heating assistance for qualifying households. The Office also tracks progress on statewide energy initiatives laid out in Maine’s Comprehensive Energy Plan.

Efficiency Maine Trust

The Efficiency Maine Trust (Efficiency Maine) is the primary energy savings program for the state of Maine (https://www.efficiencymaine.com/about/). It is an independent, quasi-state agency established in 2009 to plan and implement energy efficiency and alternative energy programs in Maine (https://www.efficiencymaine.com/docs/EMT_Program_Manager_Financial.pdf).

Efficiency Maine administers a wide variety of energy savings incentives and rebates to help Maine homes and businesses reduce energy costs and transition to clean energy (https://www.efficiencymaine.com/). Some of the key programs offered include:

• Rebates for energy efficient appliances, lighting, and heating systems
• Free home energy assessments
• Loans and financing options for efficiency upgrades
• Assistance for low-income households
• Incentives for renewable energy like solar panels

Since 2010, Efficiency Maine states they have helped over 500,000 Maine households and businesses save over $1 billion on energy bills. They offer customized support, expertise, and funding to help Maine residents and businesses reduce energy waste and costs.

Other Maine Programs

In addition to the Efficiency Maine Trust, there are some other notable energy savings programs in Maine:

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households pay for heating costs and weatherization services. It is administered by the Maine State Housing Authority.

The Renewable Energy Rebates Program from the Governor’s Energy Office provides rebates for renewable energy system installations like solar panels.

Some Maine electric utilities like Central Maine Power and Emera Maine also offer additional energy efficiency rebates and incentives beyond Efficiency Maine’s programs.

The Maine Lifeline Program helps low-income electricity customers maintain service by offering discounts on monthly bills.

These supplementary programs help provide energy savings opportunities to Maine households and businesses beyond the larger Efficiency Maine Trust initiatives.

Eligibility

Maine has two primary energy efficiency programs – the Efficiency Maine Trust and programs offered directly through the State of Maine. Eligibility varies between programs.

The Efficiency Maine Trust offers enhanced incentives to income-eligible households, defined as those at or below 80% of the state median income. Households must provide documentation of income to qualify. Efficiency Maine also offers programs open to all Maine households and businesses regardless of income, aimed at upgrading lighting, heating systems, appliances and more to be more energy efficient. Any Maine electric customer can participate in Efficiency Maine rebates and incentives http://www.maine.gov/energy/initiatives/energy-efficiency.

Maine also offers some assistance directly to low-income households, seniors, and other qualifying groups. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides funding for heating costs, emergency fuel delivery, and weatherization upgrades to eligible households. Any Maine resident can apply, with priority given to lower income households, particularly those with children, seniors or people with disabilities https://www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/.

Benefits

Participating in Maine’s energy savings programs provides many benefits for residents and businesses. Key benefits include:

• Lower energy bills – Energy efficiency upgrades like insulation, air sealing, and heating system improvements can reduce energy usage and costs by up to 30% (https://www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/).
• Increased comfort – Properly insulating and sealing a home makes it more comfortable by reducing drafts and balancing temperatures.
• Rebates and incentives – Efficiency Maine offers instant discounts and mail-in rebates to lower the upfront costs of upgrades like appliances, lighting, and weatherization (https://www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/rebates/).
• Financing options – Low-interest loans and on-bill financing is available to spread out upgrade costs over time.
• Environmental benefits – Reduced energy usage lowers carbon emissions and benefits the environment.
• Support local economy – Energy efficiency projects employ Maine contractors and keep energy dollars in-state.

By participating in programs like those offered through Efficiency Maine Trust, Maine homeowners and businesses can make upgrades that provide immediate and long-term savings and benefits.

Savings Examples

Efficiency Maine’s programs have resulted in significant energy savings for residents and businesses across the state. According to a 2019 report by Efficiency Maine, their Home Energy Savings Program has helped over 50,000 Maine households improve efficiency, resulting in lifetime energy savings of over $500 million (Efficiency Maine). This program provides rebates on heat pumps, insulation, efficient lighting, appliances and more.

One success story is the town of Thomaston, which used Efficiency Maine rebates to install solar panels on its wastewater treatment plant in 2014. This is projected to save the town over $200,000 in electricity costs over 20 years (Department of Energy). Efficiency Maine’s Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive Program provides similar rebates to businesses.

Maine has also seen significant growth in heat pump adoption, with over 100,000 installed as of 2021 – two years ahead of the state’s goal. Heat pumps can reduce heating costs by up to 50% compared to oil or propane (Office of the Governor). Efficiency Maine’s rebates have helped drive this transition to efficient electric heating.

Participation Process

Maine residents and businesses can participate in energy efficiency programs primarily through the Efficiency Maine Trust. To participate, you first need to determine if you qualify for any of their residential or commercial programs.

For homeowners, Efficiency Maine offers rebates and financing options for heat pumps, weatherization, appliances, lighting, and more. You can check your eligibility and view requirements on their website here. Generally, you’ll need to purchase qualifying equipment or services from approved contractors and submit rebate forms along with invoices and other documentation.

Businesses can receive incentives for upgrades like heating systems, lighting, controls, appliances, custom projects, and small business direct install programs. Efficiency Maine has information on eligibility, project requirements, and the application process here. You’ll need to submit applications before starting work and provide invoices after completing projects.

Other helpful resources include Efficiency Maine’s rebate finder tool and contact information if you have questions about getting started with an energy-saving project for your home or business.

Future Outlook

Maine has ambitious plans to continue expanding and improving its energy savings programs in the coming years. Governor Janet Mills has set a goal for Maine to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 from 1990 levels.

To help achieve these targets, Maine has unveiled a new 4-year Climate Action Plan that calls for greater investments in energy efficiency, weatherization, and heat pumps. The plan aims to install 100,000 new high-efficiency heat pumps in Maine homes by 2025.

In November 2021, Maine voters approved a $100 million bond to support energy efficiency upgrades, weatherization, and installation of renewable energy like solar panels. Efficiency Maine plans to use the funds to offer expanded rebates and incentives to homeowners and businesses.

The nonprofit Natural Resources Council of Maine is also advocating for utility reform in Maine to better align utilities with state climate goals. They recommend performance-based regulation that rewards utilities for efficiency improvements rather than increased electricity sales.

With strong government and community support for energy savings in Maine, the future looks bright. We can expect to see continued innovation and expansion of programs like Efficiency Maine to help more Mainers upgrade homes, lower energy bills, and meet ambitious state climate action targets.

Conclusion

In summary, Maine does have energy saving programs available to residents through Efficiency Maine Trust and other local providers. These programs offer incentives and rebates to help households and businesses reduce energy costs through efficiency upgrades and weatherization improvements. By participating in these voluntary programs, Mainers can lower utility bills, increase home comfort, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable energy future in the state. With continually evolving technology and a statewide commitment to efficiency, the energy savings opportunities in Maine will likely continue expanding in the years ahead. Energy conscious consumers would be wise to explore the current offerings, as significant savings can be achieved through relatively simple upgrades and behavior changes.