Federal Department of Energy Recognizes Maine's Leadership to Weatherize Homes

Press Release

The federal government praised the State of Maine today for achieving initial weatherization goals through federal Recovery Act funds. Governor John E. Baldacci was joined in a conference call this morning by U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi for the announcement. According to Assistant Secretary Zoi, Maine is one of the country's weatherization leaders and has now weatherized more than 30 percent of their total targeted homes.

"Conservation is the most cost-effective way to reduce our dependence on oil. By investing in weatherization, we help families keep more of their hard-earned money, we create good jobs and we reduce the amount of pollution in our environment," Governor John E. Baldacci said. "Investments from the Recovery Act have made a significant difference to our State, and through the low-income weatherization program administered by Maine Housing it is helping thousands of people save money."

Through the Weatherization Assistance Program, Maine has weatherized 1,582 low-income homes under the Recovery Act as of April 30, 2010. The program partners MaineHousing with local nonprofits and community action agencies to conduct energy audits and identify cost-effective improvements to the homes, saving families an average of $437 on their energy bills every year.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is also creating jobs throughout the State. MaineHousing says that more than 160 workers were employed by weatherization providers during the first three months of 2010.

"What we see here today is that states like Maine are moving forward aggressively with the weatherization program, delivering energy and cost savings for the families who need it most," said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "This Recovery Act funding is helping to create jobs in local communities while putting America on the path to a clean energy future."

With the plan to weatherize a total of more than 4,400 homes, Maine was allocated $41.9 million for the weatherization program under the Recovery Act. The State previously had access to the first 50 percent of the funding. By weatherizing more than 30 percent of total estimated homes, Maine can now access the full $41.9 million to continue weatherizing homes.

Since February 2009, Maine has also weatherized 1,100 additional homes under the State's annual weatherization program. Together with the Recovery Act funding, the state has now weatherized more than 2,680 homes since the Recovery Act began. Cost-effective energy improvements in homes includes installing items such as insulation and weatherstripping, sealing windows and doors, caulking cracks in the building, and replacing inefficient heating and cooling systems.

"As a State that has among the oldest housing in the country, has one of the coldest climates, and is more dependent on imported heating oil than many other states, we are aware of the tremendous need to make our housing more energy efficient," said Governor Baldacci. "That is why Maine has taken a leading role in weatherization, evidenced by our commitment to weatherize all the homes in Maine and half of the businesses by 2030. We are off to a good start."

The State's weatherization program is also looking at expanding the program and raising additional funding to enable the state to weatherize even more homes. This includes a plan to generate additional funds by selling carbon emission offsets from the homes weatherized under the Recovery Act.

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