Southern Maine Energy Resilience Plan

 

Power outages from weather-related disasters are a significant hazard in Maine, which experiences blackouts at some of the highest frequencies in the entire United States. Frequent power outages can incur large costs to the region’s businesses, which may experience the loss of perishable products, delay certain activities, damage to equipment, or suffer reduced hours and/or reduced staffing due to lack of power. 

To support regional energy resilience, SMPDC is leading the creation of the Southern Maine Energy Resilience Plan. The 18-month planning process will identify energy reliability challenges, as well as recommend local and regional resilience measures and propose areas for cooperation and partnership.

Energy Resilience Plan Process

SMPDC will draw on three core sources of knowledge and input during this initiative.

  • A consulting team will provide expert technical input and analysis.
  • A stakeholder group - comprised of local municipalities, utilities, critical infrastructure providers, and industrial and commercial businesses - will inform and advise the consulting team.
  • Community engagement and outreach will occur at key project milestones to reach a wider group of voices in southern Maine.

 

The plan will identify specific actions the region, local governments, and community members can take to support energy resilience. Potential actions include:

  • Vegetation management and alignment of street tree/tree canopy/heat island reduction policies between local governments and utilities.
  • Increased coordination on utility pole management between local governments and utilities.
  • Microgrid and localized distributed generation and battery storage projects to reduce power disruptions.
  • Establishment of local regulations requiring the undergrounding of new electrical lines.
  • Coordination on the relocation of vulnerable and frequently damaged power lines.
  • Outreach and support to businesses and community members to prepare for power outages and identify federal and state programs that can support installation of distributed generation and battery backup systems.  

 

The outcome of the Regional Energy Resilience Plan will be increased coordination and action across stakeholders to ensure that critical municipal services, businesses, and all community members have reliable, disaster-resilient electricity.