Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded a new partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Mount Desert Island that will strengthen the island’s energy infrastructure, accelerate access to clean power, and improve its economic outlook. The island was selected for the DOE’s Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP), which works alongside remote coastal communities nationwide to transform their energy systems and increase resilience through strategic energy planning. This announcement marks the third engagement between the ETIPP and Maine communities; the program is already working with Eastport and Islesboro.

“Clean energy availability is one of the keys to unlocking a future of renewable, reliable, and affordable power,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “As the home to one of the crown jewels of America’s National Park System, Mount Desert Island has long been a model for environmental stewardship and has made significant strides to preserve Acadia’s natural wonders. We welcome this investment, which will help the community accelerate its plans to increase the resiliency of the local grid and transition to a clean energy future.” 

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) selected twelve island communities in 2022, including Mount Desert Island, to help transform their energy systems for the 21st century. The partnership will help Mount Desert Island understand optimal approaches to transition its grid to clean energy while increasing energy resilience and community capacity. The project will be done in partnership with the Island Institute, and will assess opportunities for renewable energy integration, energy storage and efficiency, and the viability of a microgrid to make the island resilient during extreme weather events. Results from this project will support future decarbonization plans for the area.