Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that Maine will receive a total of $31,245,144 to help low-income Maine families make energy-efficient improvements and lower their heating and electric bills. 

This funding was authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and provided through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) – the Department of Energy’s largest residential energy retrofit program.  Senator Collins was part of the core group of 10 Senators who negotiated the text of the bipartisan infrastructure law. 

Projects supported by WAP include installing insulation, updating heating and cooling systems, upgrading electrical appliances, and taking other common-sense actions that make homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer with less energy usage.  

“The Weatherization Assistance Program is a proven, cost-effective way to permanently reduce energy usage and cut low-income Americans’ utility bills for the long-term.  Energy efficiency projects also protect the environment, increase energy independence, and create jobs,” said Senator Collins.  “I have long championed funding for this successful program, and the increased investments provided through the bipartisan infrastructure law will help more Americans make improvements that will allow them to affordably heat their homes.”

“Weatherization is an efficient way to reduce heating costs, fight climate change, and help Maine people stay warm during the winter,” said Senator King. “For years, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped low-income Maine homeowners make these important upgrades, and I’m glad to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill making significant investments in the program. This funding will help low-income Maine homeowners cut their energy bills, while also creating important jobs in communities across our state.”

“This historic support for weatherization from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law comes at a critical time, as global markets increase energy prices. Every dollar invested in energy efficiency helps Maine families save money and reduces our dependence on volatile fossil fuels like oil and natural gas,” said Dan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Energy Office. “We look forward to working with the U.S. Department of Energy, our Federal delegation, and MaineHousing to help lower energy costs for Maine people.”   

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to access this funding,” MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan said.  “It comes at a critical time of rising energy costs and the resulting strain on household finances.  We will work closely with our state partners and those in the energy industry to put these funds to good use, furthering our climate goals and easing the energy burden for Mainers.”

Since 1976, WAP has served over seven million households and delivered an average of $372 in annual energy savings for American families. The bipartisan infrastructure law increased funding for WAP to ten times current funding levels, which will expand weatherization services to more homes and create more jobs.