May 4, 2021 (Augusta, ME) – Maine Governor Janet Mills has proposed distributing American Rescue Plan funding to make critical investments in energy efficiency, broadband, wastewater clean-up, State Parks, and other essential programs that will help Maine emerge from the pandemic stronger, support local jobs, and lead to cleaner air and water for Maine people, according to the state’s leading environmental advocacy organization, the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
The “Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan,” (PDF) announced today in a bill filed with the Maine Legislature, would distribute $1.13 billion in federal recovery funding for cleaner water by repairing outdated wastewater systems; workforce training for clean energy jobs; expansion of high-speed broadband internet to rural communities; help for homeowners, schools, and community groups to save money on their utility bills through energy efficiency; expansion of the state’s electric vehicle charging network; and much-needed maintenance projects at Maine’s popular State Parks.
Below is a statement from Pete Didisheim, Advocacy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine on Maine’s American Rescue Plan investments:
“Governor Mills has chosen a path forward that will open up opportunities for Maine people, strengthen our clean energy economy, and help us emerge from the pandemic stronger than before. The investments laid out in the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan will deliver cleaner air and water, reduced energy bills, newly trained employees, and additional jobs for Maine people, especially in our rural communities.
We are particularly excited about the proposed investment in Maine State Parks and in energy efficiency improvements for businesses, municipalities, and homeowners. These are critical, positive investments that will deliver dividends for decades to come.”
President Biden’s American Jobs Plan would build on these investments by providing sorely needed upgrades to the nation’s infrastructure and supporting the transition to a clean energy economy. According to NRCM’s recent analysis, it would deliver enormous benefits to Maine’s economy, environment, and people—in every part of the state.
If enacted by Congress, Maine would receive funding from the American Jobs Plan to eliminate lead in drinking water pipes; update stormwater systems to avoid catastrophic pollution events that close clam flats and beaches; bring reliable, modernized public transit statewide; create a more reliable electric grid and expand affordability of electric cars and trucks; lower energy costs for homeowners and businesses; and help protect our communities from the impacts of climate change.
