AUGUSTA, Maine — Over the three years staring July 1, the board of the Efficiency Maine Trust is proposing a budget of nearly $209 million to pay for a wide range of energy efficiency programs to save Mainers — homeowners and businesses alike — on their heating and cooling costs.
"Our programs are designed to help every customer group in every part of the state find some way they can access more energy efficient lights, air conditioners, heating system and home weatherization," says Mike Stoddard, executive director of the agency.
Mainers that take advantage of those programs will save big. Over the lifetime of those investments, the savings in energy costs are projected at over $800 million.
Stoddard says not everyone is taking advantage of the various programs, and part of the three-year plan is to educate more Mainers on the savings they can achieve through energy efficiency.
"We have an ongoing challenge to get the word out to more customers in more parts of the state, so that will be a big focus of the plan in years ahead," he says.
