Maine Won't Wait logo

Maine Stories

Mainers confronting climate change threats

Mainers from every corner of the state are stepping up to the climate challenge. Practical, creative and trailblazing teachers, bus drivers, students, communities, recent graduates and professional athletes alike are taking action to get ahead of the climate curve. Read their stories.

Woman in mechanic jumpsuit standing next to the open hood of an electric vehicle. Text overlay reads "Ruth Morrison, instructor of Maine's first electric vehicle repair course launched at Southern Maine Community College. Photo: SMCC."

Maine's First EV Repair Training Course Meets Accelerating Adoption

The first electric vehicle repair course in Maine launched at Southern Maine Community College as EV and hybrid adoption accelerates across the state. In the course, auto technicians from dealerships, repair shops and other automotive businesses are trained to diagnose and service electric and hybrid vehicles.

Read more

Picture of a street with brick buildings and text reading Community Resilience Partnership

Grants for Maine Towns and Tribes Taking Climate Action

Towns, tribes, and unorganized territories in Maine can apply for Community Action Grants, which provide funds for clean energy, energy efficiency and climate resilience projects. Offered through the Community Resilience Partnership, the Community Action Grant summer application period is open now through September 20, 2022. 

This post answers key questions about Community Action Grants. You can find complete grant information and learn about informational webinar opportunities here

Read more

Woman standing in front of a tree, with a green text box in the lower left reading "Alyssa Soucy, Youth Representative on the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council"

Representing Youth Voices on Climate Change

As Youth Representative on the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STS) of the Maine Climate Council (MCC), Alyssa Soucy brings climate change concerns and viewpoints of Maine’s youth to the table. The University of Maine Ecology and Environmental Science PhD student pairs social science training with insights into young Mainers’ climate ideas to help inform the climate science reports behind Maine Won’t Wait.

Read more

Two people with partially built windows next to a wooden table

WindowDressers: Reducing Emissions, Keeping Homes Warm & Building Community

WindowDressers is a nonprofit on a mission to reduce heating costs and fossil fuel consumption for Maine homes by lowering the amount of heat loss through windows - and build community along the way. Volunteers gather at Community Builds across the state to assemble the low-cost insulating window inserts, which serve as custom, interior-mounted, reusable storm windows.

Read more

Top picture: several people sitting at a long table on a stage in front of seated students. Bottom right: photo of student raising hand to ask a question of a person standing at front of classroom. Bottom left, text reads "Mt. Blue High School teacher Dr. Patricia Millette planned the school's first climate workshop in response to student anxiety over climate change."

Climate Workshop Resonates with Mt. Blue High School Students

Mt. Blue High School Earth science teacher Dr. Patricia Millette asked students which science topics concerned them at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Climate change surfaced as a top response.

The discovery of student anxiety over climate change served as a catalyst for Dr. Millette to plan the school’s first climate workshop. Over the course of a few months, Dr. Millette recruited speakers from Maine’s legislature, farming, business, youth and climate science communities around themes designed to educate and empower students.   

Read more