Future, Foresight, Planning • emdc.org

Building Resilience in Eastern Maine

Kevin Anderson, Regional Planner

Climate change is increasingly impacting the Eastern Maine region, with Piscataquis and Penobscot counties experiencing significant environmental and infrastructural challenges. In Piscataquis County, communities like Dover-Foxcroft have been hit hard by extreme cold snaps, necessitating the development of plans to protect residents during harsh winter conditions. Intense rainfall and subsequent flooding have become more frequent, causing considerable damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Penobscot County has faced severe weather events, including the storms this past December & January that led to extensive flooding and power outages, impacting both public infrastructure and private properties. These recurring incidents underline the urgent need for robust climate adaptation and implementation of new infrastructure strategies.

Mitigating the effects of climate change is no easy feat but is key for the future of the region. Taking proactive steps such as improving and modernizing infrastructure to withstand extreme weather is essential and should be at the forefront of any alleviation efforts. This includes updating stormwater systems and constructing floodwalls to manage increased rainfall and flooding. For instance, Community Action Grants have been utilized to develop plans for climate resilience in towns such as Dover-Foxcroft and Greenville.

Transitioning to renewable energy sources and enhancing energy efficiency in public buildings is another crucial step. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, municipalities can address the root cause of climate change. Programs to support the adoption of electric vehicles and clean energy solutions are being promoted throughout the region, encouraging a shift towards sustainability. However, what is less discussed is the importance of building homes that are more energy efficient.

Constructing or retrofitting homes with better insulation, energy efficient windows, and high efficiency heating and cooling systems can significantly reduce energy consumption. Central air conditioning and heating systems are becoming increasingly necessary to cope with extreme temperatures. These systems not only provide comfort but also ensure that residents, especially the vulnerable, are protected during extreme weather conditions. Enhanced housing infrastructure can also reduce the overall demand on the electrical grid, further contributing to energy conservation efforts and lower cost for homeowners. The emphasis should be on industry and reduced on residents who have less means to adapt to climate change.

Lastly, enhancing community preparedness through education and emergency planning is vital. Municipalities can establish local resilience teams to engage with residents and businesses, increasing awareness of climate change impacts and encouraging community-wide participation in resilience planning. Eastern Maine Development Corporation supports these efforts by helping towns apply for resilience grants and offering technical assistance for implementing climate adaptation projects.

By focusing on infrastructure resilience, clean energy adoption, energy- efficient housing, and community engagement, municipalities in Eastern Maine can better prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change

Let us know if you have questions on resilience!

Broadband Team Update

Benjamin Bussiere, Broadband Specialist

Eastern Maine Development Corporation has been working tirelessly to bridge the digital divide. The Broadband Team (TBT) has been working on interviews, NDEC class offerings, tech workshops, tele-health expansion, and our lending library program.

TBT has developed key partnerships with Piscataquis County Regional Food Center, Corinth Food Pantry, UUC Food Pantry, and the Lincoln Regional Food Cupboard. We have conducted thirty-two interviews. This is about two-thirds of our goal for this year in roughly a month or less. TBT will be at the Hermon Town Hall for election day and we expect a significant amount of interviews to be conducted. We continue to partner with towns, food cupboards, organizations, and libraries to achieve our goal. These interviews will be imperative to determining how we spend our time and funds to best help our communities. Further, we are working on partnerships with multiple libraries to teach classes.

TBT and NDEC have recently received partnership Memorandum’s of Understanding from Case Memorial Library in Kenduskeag and Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft. There are libraries and institutions that currently partner with NDEC in Piscataquis County and Penobscot County. These partnerships help open these institutions to digital literacy training. The classes include topics such as internet safety, email safety, iPhone basics, android basics, and much more! EMDC invites the public to take classes and learn more about their digital devices.

The first technology workshop took place on May 30th at the Case Memorial Library in Kenduskeag with the help of volunteers. The next technology workshop will take place on August 7th at the Piscataquis Calley Adult Education Cooperative in Dover-Foxcroft.

In other news, TBT is in touch with Reid Plimpton from MCDGlobal Health. Reid Plimpton is the Project Manager for the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center and other Digital Health Initiatives. We have an upcoming meeting to discuss the framework of the program and help him with outreach. Reid is working on a pilot project that will help with Private Non-Medical Institutions.

Lastly, we are tentatively launching our lending library this summer.

TBT has decided to purchase laptops that will be given to local libraries and institutions. The first institution to receive laptops will be Bangor Public library (BPL), which will be lendable to the public. This is an important program, because many lack the financial means to purchase a digital device. In terms of wrap around services, we will have tech one-on-one programming and class offerings that will help individuals who lack digital skills. Further, we are identifying locations in Piscataquis County to extend this program. This will help individuals from a multitude of backgrounds achieve their goals!

We look forward to updating you on future progress and helping to bridge the digital divide.

Community Resilience is for Everyone

Laurie Osher, Community Resilience Specialist

Over the last two years, EMDC has served as the Regional Coordinator for Maine Community Resilience Partnership (CRP). In that role, EMDC has worked with communities in Penobscot, Piscatiquis and Aroostook Counties, discussing how their communities can be more resilient to extreme weather events and the other challenges associated with climate change. Since the start of the program in 2022, twenty-one communities in these three counties have joined the CRP. Another seven are working with EMDC this year to enroll. A huge benefit of enrollment in the CRP is the opportunity to apply for Community Action Grants. Each CRP member community is eligible to apply for $50,000 grants and groups of 2 or more communities can apply for up to $125,000. It was just announced that 54 Maine communities will be awarded Community Action Grants this summer! The awardees include Greenville in Piscataquis County; Patten in Penobscot County, and Island Falls, Crystal, Van Buren, Washburn, and the Houlton Band of Maliseets in Aroostook County. 

EMDC is assisting the towns of Corinna, Dexter, East Millinocket, Guilford, Bradford, Brownville and La Grange to enroll in the CRP and will help them to apply for Community Action Grants that will be due late in the fall of 2024. If your town is interested in enrolling in the CRP, contact EMDC’s Laurie Osher at losher@emdc.org, 207 944-6743.