RSU 1 Completes Climate Action Sustainability Plan, Creating a Model for Other Districts

Regional School Unit (RSU) 1, serving the communities of Bath, Woolwich, Phippsburg and Arrowsic, has completed a comprehensive, district-wide, sustainability plan joining a small but growing number of school administrative units (SAUs) taking a significant step toward making sustainability and climate action part of their long-term planning and operations.

RSU 1’s plan builds on a strong track record of prioritizing sustainability, including the construction of the new Morse High School with ground-source heat pumps and a partnership with ReVision Energy to source electricity from a local solar farm. The plan establishes goals for reducing carbon emissions and waste across district operations while ensuring that RSU 1 students develop climate literacy and have opportunities to engage in solution-focused climate education.

The plan was developed over two years through the collaborative work of students, educators, administrators, and community members. The resulting roadmap balances ambitious long-term goals with achievable “quick wins,” creating opportunities for them to build momentum while working toward deeper, systemic change.

With the plan now complete, RSU 1 is moving into implementation. They will establish action teams, develop performance measures, and track progress toward its sustainability goals.

Micah Depper, a science teacher at Bath Middle School in RSU 1, co-chair of the RSU 1 Climate Resilience Working Group, and a Maine Milken Award-winning educator, helped lead the effort. His work demonstrates the powerful role educators can play in helping schools and communities envision—and build—a more sustainable future.

“RSU 1’s sustainability plan is an excellent example of what can happen when students, educators, administrators, and community members come together around a shared vision,” Maine Department of Education (DOE) Director of Maine Green Schools Program, Glenn Cummings said. “We hope other SAUs will look to RSU 1’s work as inspiration and consider how they, too, can develop a sustainability plan that reflects their community’s priorities and moves them from ideas to action.”

See RSU1’s Climate Action Plan (PDF) here. For more information about working with Maine DOE to develop a sustainability plan in your SAU, please contact Glenn Cummings, Maine DOE Green Schools Director at glenn.cummings@maine.gov

Energy Savings Funding Opportunities and Resources for Maine Schools

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to share information about new funding opportunities and resources for Maine schools, as it pertains to energy savings. The following three items are intended to help school administrative units (SAUs) maximize their energy efficiency, save money, and reduce air pollution.

Free Energy Audit and Indoor Air Quality Testing Program

In partnership with Building Infrastructure Management Solutions (BIMS), the Maine DOE Green Schools Program is excited to offer SAUs an opportunity to assess and improve performance of their buildings with free school facility energy analysis, as well as indoor air quality consultation and technical assistance.

Through this program, BIMS will serve as a technical partner to participating SAUs, sharing information about and assisting with planning for improvements to energy efficiency. This includes measuring and identifying strategies to improve air quality to enhance school facility resilience and reduce long-term operational costs.

Through this program, SAUs can receive the following at no cost:

A comprehensive energy and indoor air quality audit of school facilities
An assessment of energy use, HVAC systems, and other major energy-consuming infrastructure
A customized, actionable guide outlining recommended improvements based on audit findings
Guidance on funding mechanisms, including applicable state and federal grants and incentive programs
Support navigating procurement considerations for clean energy and efficiency upgrades

SAUs that are interested in this program are encouraged to complete this interest form or contact Donald Bresnahan, Senior Vice President of BIMS, at don@bims.company or 207-956-2685. Selected SAUs will participate in follow-up discussions to confirm their eligibility and scope of need.

LED Lighting Retrofit Funding Opportunity Notice

Through a Funding Opportunity Notice (FON), Efficiency Maine is seeking applications for energy efficiency projects involving lighting retrofits in Maine public pre-K-12 schools. With the intent of accelerating the conversion to LED lighting in schools and beyond, this initiative offers incentives that are 30 percent higher than those typically provided under the Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive Initiatives.

Efficiency Maine is accepting applications for this FON until June 30, 2026, or until funding has been exhausted. Projects must be completed by August 31, 2026.

More information about this initiative and instructions on how to apply are available here. To participate in this FON and other Efficiency Maine opportunities, engagement with a Qualified Partner is necessary for assistance and support purposes; SAUs can find more information here.

This initiative includes Indian Education and Education in the Unorganized Territory schools. Any interested schools should contact the Efficiency Maine team at CIP@efficiencymaine.com or 207-213-6247.

Summary of Federal Energy Tax Credits and Resources

The school-centered nonprofit UndauntedK12 provides regular updates on available federal energy tax credits and resources. Its Energy Tax Credits for Schools Hub includes detailed descriptions of potential energy systems supports for schools, as well as direct links to the federal energy tax credits currently available to schools. Its Updates to Energy Tax Credits webpage contains additional resources, including videos, a slideshow, and a table outlining changes to federal energy tax credits.

The UndauntedK12 website will be updated once the U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued new guidance on restrictions for solar and energy storage projects; however, the links for these webpages will remain the same.

With general questions about any of these opportunities/resources, please contact Glenn Cummings, Maine DOE Director of Green Schools, at glenn.cummings@maine.gov.

Job Posting: VISTA Maine Green Schools Network Coordinator

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Innovation is seeking a full-time VISTA member to help organize and build the new Green Schools Network (GSN), as established in Title 20-A, Chapter 335: Maine Green Schools Network.

Join the Maine Green Schools Program by playing the central coordinating role in the development of the newly established GSN. This role is perfect for those seeking to help address climate change, while working daily with some of Maine’s most recognized environmental players!

Find yourself in the center of an exciting new consortium of Maine school educators, administrators, community partners, and youth to strengthen sustainability practices, improve the environmental conditions of Maine school facilities, and expand access to climate-ready curriculum.

You can find additional details about the job at either of the links below:

With questions, please contact Sol Carpenter of Goodwill Northern New England at sol.carpenter@goodwillnne.org.