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What is the Efficiency Maine Trust

Legislation passed in 2009 called for the formation of the Efficiency Maine Trust to organize the State’s various energy-related programs (programs currently run or coordinated by Efficiency Maine, the Energy and Carbon Savings Trust, and the Energy Conservation Board) together under one roof.

The law also set aggressive goals to cut Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels: to weatherize all Maine homes and half of Maine businesses by 2030, and to cut 30% of electricity use, 30% of natural gas, and 20% of heating fuels by 2020.

This new law created the Efficiency Maine Trust and Board to design, coordinate, and integrate energy efficiency, weatherization, and clean energy programs for all energy consumers in Maine. The Trust will fund both energy efficiency and clean energy programs to address both the electricity and heating energy needs of Maine people, as long as they meet tests for cost-effectiveness.

The Trust will direct tens of millions of dollars into weatherization, conservation, and efficiency programs. Despite the fact that more than 80 percent of Maine’s homes and businesses heat with oil, until now there hasn’t been a comprehensive program to help residents and businesses cut heating costs with weatherization programs.

Efficiency Maine Trust Triennial Plan

The Trust's Board is developing a triennial plan to spell out program design, planning, and implementation strategies for all energy efficiency and renewable energy resources, for all fuels, and across all customer classes.

During the fall 2009, the Trust and consultants worked on the plan, and they are now in the process of drafting what they are calling a "strawman proposal" that represents the framework of the Triennial Plan. During January 2010, stakeholder meetings were held at various locations in the state to present the strawman and solicit public input.

Important Points about Energy Efficiency

• Energy efficiency is the largest and most affordable energy resource that we have in Maine, and it is still largely untapped. This is a specific plan to help Maine residents and businesses tap Maine’s cost-effective energy efficiency potential, save millions of dollars, and create jobs for Maine people.
• Maine needs and deserves a comprehensive energy efficiency plan that also has the resources that it will take to implement the plan and achieve its goals.
• Maine is dangerously dependent on imported oil and natural gas, with more than 80% of our homes heated with oil. We absolutely must transform our energy system to increase our energy independence in an affordable and achievable way, and energy efficiency is our best resource for doing so.
• While Maine already has a significant energy efficiency economy and workforce, the potential for more jobs is great. This plan would help create thousands of additional efficiency jobs in Maine at a time when we need to increase employment opportunities.
• This long-term plan is the kind of effort that is needed to sustain demand for energy efficiency so that sector can succeed and expand.  Maine cannot build an energy efficient economy by responding to the peaks and valleys of oil prices. Enduring plans and resources are needed to maintain demand for services and products and sustain the jobs that are created.