Maine Gets Significant Funding to Expand Heat Pumps Says Governor Mills

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Governor Janet T. Mills (D), Addresses the 200 or so at the First Aannual Housing Summit at Oean Gateway Pirtland Earlier This Year..

Maine is expected to receive up to $72 million out of $450 million in federal funding to New England states to advance heat pump deploymet according to a press release issued yesterday from the office of Governor Janet T. Mills (D).  The funding supports Governor Mills’ goal of installing another 175,000 heat pumps in Maine by 2027.

The funding will accelerate the adoption of heat pumps technology in residential single-family homes and multi-famly buildings across the region.

The five northeast states – Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island – were selected for the $450 million grant through the US Environmetal Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, which is fueled through the Federal Inflation Reduction Act.

Maine’s share of the award is estimated to be between $45 million and $72 million, whch will support installtion of highly efficient heat pumps for home heating and cooking and heat pump hot water heaters.  The funds will be awarded through the Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) and be admindistered by Efficiency Maine.

The multistate proposal will prioritize collaboration and information  sharing between states and will be made up of three main hubs:  The Market Hub, the Innovative Hub and the Resource Hub.

Maine’s success in installing heat pumps has earned wide recognition for  how the high-efficiency heating and cookig technology works well in rural areas with cold climates and can generate new economic and workforce opportunities for Maine.

“Maine’s nation-leading transition to heat pumps is creating good paying jobs, curbing our relianace on expensive and harmfu fossil fuels and cutting costs for Maine families.  This sigificant award will continue our momentum, and ensure folks across Maine, particularly those in rural Maine, stay comfortable and safe in their homes and save them money in the process,” said Governor Janet T. Mills, in part.