Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions

Session F – MAINECAN: Maine community-led Energy and Climate Action Network

All Day Session
Presenters are indicated in bold font.

Session Co-chairs:
Sharon Klein, Associate Professor School of Economics, Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow, University of Maine
Caroline Noblet, Associate Professor School of Economics, Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow, University of Maine
Cressica Brazier, Research Associate, MAINECAN
Kelsey Flores, Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Coordinator
Jasmine Lamb, Founder & Chair, Sipayik Resilience Committee
Johannah Blackman, Executive Director, A Climate to Thrive
Beth Woolfolk, Manager of Renewable Energy Planning and Policy, A Climate to Thrive
Maddie Jensen, Planner, Bangor Area Transportation Comprehensive Transportation System
Gabe McPhail, Resilient Communities, L3C
Scott Vlaun, Executive Director, Center for an Ecology Based Economy 
Abby Roche, Community Development Officer, Island Institute
Faizan Saif, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Maine
Hamza Imran, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Maine
Sonia Leone, Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Maine
Katherine Simmons, Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Maine

This session will bring together Maine communities (municipal & tribal government officials, local non-profit organizations, citizen groups) implementing or interested in implementing climate and energy solutions and the groups supporting these efforts: Service Providers and Regional Coordinators from the Maine Community Resilience Partnership; Maine-based non-profit organizations; and other entities supporting community-driven climate and energy action. It will be an all-day “track” with morning and afternoon sessions and related poster presentations. This will be our second Maine community-led Energy and Climate Action Network (MAINECAN) event; this initiative has been building over recent years and is a collaboration between community groups and the entities that support them. Each session will focus on a different theme: outreach/engagement best practices (community leaders with community members; supportive partners with communities); specific projects and lessons learned (e.g., climate action planning processes, community-driven solar cooperatives, residential weatherization, etc.); ongoing and planned research into opportunities and barriers for energy transitions; and resources for communities to build capacity and keep the momentum going. A targeted focus will be on people and communities considered underserved, disadvantaged, or “high” on Maine’s Social Vulnerability Index. Ideally, each session will have some combination of panel presentations and roundtable discussions.

Session Schedule

Morning Session
What is MAINECAN and how can it help community-driven energy and climate resilience initiatives?

• 8:30AM-8:45AM – Welcome Presentation: MAINECAN Overview & History | Presenters: Sharon Klein, Cressica Brazier, Jasmine Lamb
• 8:45AM-9:30AM – Networks within MAINECAN and the support they provide to MAINECAN communities | Moderator: Scott Vlaun
• 9:30AM-10:00AM – Breakout Discussions
• 10:00AM-10:30AM – MAINECAN Planning Mtg: What should MAINECAN do in 2025, and how should it make decisions to support community initiatives?

Afternoon Session
How to get funding and other capacity building support for community-led initiatives?

• 1:30PM-2:10PM – Lessons from MAINECAN communities and allies   | Moderator: Abby Roche
• 2:10PM-2:40PM – Lightning Round for Funding, Capacity Building, and Other Support Providers  | Moderator: Sharon Klein
• 2:40PM-3:00PM – Afternoon Break
• 3:00PM-3:30PM – Breakout Discussions
• 3:30PM-4:00PM – MAINECAN Planning Mtg: Follow-up from morning meeting as appropriate

8:30AM – 8:45AM
Welcome Presentation: MAINECAN Overview & History

Sharon Klein, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Maine
Cressica Brazier, MAINECAN Research Associate, University of Maine
Jasmine Lamb, Founder of Sipayik Resilience Committee, PhD Candidate, University of Maine

8:45AM – 9:30AM
Networks within MAINECAN and the support they provide to MAINECAN communities

Moderator: Scott Vlaun, Executive Director, Center for an Ecology Based Economy 

Panelists:

1. Local Leads the Way: Three years into collaborating for increased impact.
   Johannah Blackman, A Climate To Thrive 
2. Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Team: consortium of representatives from each Wabanaki Tribe in Maine.
   Kelsey Flores, Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Coordinator
3. Penobscot Climate Action Committee: A collaboration of municipal, institution, business, and community members furthering resilience and GHG emission reduction efforts in the Greater Bangor Area.
   Maddie Jensen, Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System (BACTS)
4. The Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project: Lessons Learned from Developing Energy Resilience with Maine’s Remote Coastal and Island Communities.
   Jessica Reilly-Moman, Kate Klibansky, and Brenna Cohen, Island Institute 
5. To Be Determined

9:30AM – 10:00AM
Breakout Discussions

1. How to Start & Sustain a Citizen Group/Committee
   Facilitators/Discussants: To Be Determined
2. Where to center climate and energy action within a local and/or tribal government and how to engage citizens
   Facilitators/Discussants: To Be Determined 
3. Envisioning a Statewide Community Energy & Climate Resilience Coordinator Program Facilitators/Discussants: Johannah Blackman, A Climate to Thrive; Sharon Klein, University of Maine; To Be Determined
4. Upcoming Maine legislative policies to support local energy and climate resilience initiatives
   Facilitators/Discussants: To Be Determined
5. How & Why Should My Community Get Involved in State Energy and Climate Initiatives? 
   Facilitators/Discussants: To Be Determined
6. MAINECAN as a connectivity platform
   Facilitators/Discussants: Cressica Brazier & Louise Chaplin, University of Maine
7. To Be Determined 
   Facilitators/Discussants: To Be Determined 

10:00AM – 10:30AM
MAINECAN Planning Mtg: What should MAINECAN do in 2025, and how should it make decisions to support community initiatives?