By David Nosnik, vice-chair Sustainability Committee
Yesterday, during our monthly meeting, we had the opportunity to hear from Karina Grater, who presented an overview of how the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) is leading the creation of the Southern Maine Energy Resilience Plan. This 18-month planning effort aims to identify energy reliability challenges across the region and recommend both local and regional resilience measures, while also fostering opportunities for cooperation and partnership.
Maine experiences some of the highest rates of weather-related power outages in the country, posing serious risks to businesses and communities—from product loss and equipment damage to operational disruptions. In response, SMPDC has launched this initiative to assess vulnerabilities in the regional energy system and develop practical strategies to improve resilience. The planning process will be informed by expert consultants, a broad stakeholder group, and robust community engagement.
Recommended measures are expected to include improvements in vegetation and utility pole management, the development of microgrids and battery storage solutions, the undergrounding of new power lines, and expanded public outreach. Ultimately, the plan seeks to increase coordination across sectors and ensure that southern Maine’s municipalities, businesses, and residents have access to reliable, disaster-resilient electricity.
You can see Karina’s slide presentation following this LINK
You can read more about the Southern Maine Energy Resilience Plan at their website SMPDC
