Portland Maine News

U.S. Senator Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is awarding Maine $5,108,413 to support coastal communities and address impacts of climate change. This funding comes from NOAA’s Climate Ready Coasts Initiative and is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s at our doorstep. Frequent extreme weather events, ocean acidification, and loss of biodiversity mean communities from Maine to California will continue to face challenges because of the changing climate,” said Senator King and Congresswoman Pingree. “This crisis demands urgent action, and that’s exactly why we worked to pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. This significant funding will help protect Maine’s coastal communities, build resilient infrastructure, and support a more sustainable future.” 

The funding for Maine is as follows:

• $1,654,680 for the Maine Department of Marine Resources to improve habitat resilience and community adaption in Downeast Maine.
• $156,150 for the University of Maine’s Maine Sea Grant to educate and empower recreational boaters and commercial fishermen and women on ways to reduce the accumulation of marine debris. 
• $299,707 for the University of Maine’s Maine Sea Grant to engage in community education, research, and development of more sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices.
• $2,997,876 for the University of Maine’s Maine Sea Grant to reduce the barriers for companies to provide sustainable packaging and combat the inflow of plastics to the Gulf of Maine. 

This grant is part of the Climate Ready Coast Initiative, which is allocating $562 million nationally through NOAA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The funding will go towards 149 infrastructure projects in 30 coastal states and territories. In addition to the grants recommended for Maine specifically, the Climate Ready Initiative recommends funding for other national and regional initiatives that will benefit Maine.

Senator King and Congresswoman Pingree both voted in favor of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Together, these bills will invests millions of dollars into Maine communities for climate mitigation.

Original source can be found here