Southern Maine towns receive $800,000 grant for energy coaching and retrofits to boost home efficiency.

Five towns and two regional nonprofits in southern Maine have received a three-year, $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The grant will fund AmeriCorps members to provide one-on-one energy coaching for residents, identify cost- and emissions-cutting retrofits for each home, apply for tax credits, rebates, and other incentives. The remaining $500,000 will be used to offset residents’ remaining costs. The pilot program aims to remove the up-front capital barrier and help homeowners navigate the process with confidence. The program’s navigators will be trained to help residents make the most of these complex offerings.