Sustainability and Transportation Committee — Portland, ME
Date: 2026-02-12
Time: 17:00

Sustainability& Transportation MEMBERS
Committee Agenda Councilor Regina Phillips, Chair
 Councilor Pious Ali, At-Large
February 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM
 Councilor Anna Bullett, District 4




The Sustainability and Transportation
Committee will conduct this meeting
remotely via Zoom. Allow your computer to
install the free Zoom app to get the best
meeting experience. If you are not able to
attend live either in person or via Zoom, a
recording will be available in the Agenda
Center following the meeting.

If the Chair calls for public comment via
Zoom, you will need to use the "raise your
hand" feature. To raise your hand via the
telephone, please hit *9. You will be unmuted
by the host if you are called to comment.

https://portlandmaine-
gov.zoom.us/j/84037714117?pwd=7GYGzIY
eNTv8m9vkCusJH2ftHjWtVz.1




1. Review and approve minutes from January 14, 2026


 a. Minutes from January 14, 2026
2. Sustainability Program Updates


 a. February 2026 Updates
 b. Report on the Electrify Everything! Initiative
 Report on 2025 Neighborhood Mini Grant program
3. Presentation and Discussion
 Public comment may be taken
 a. Update regarding the Fitzpatrick Statium Sound System
 Presenter: Angela O'Connor
 No public comment will be taken
 b. Review Five Years of One Climate Future
 Presenter: Troy Moon, Sustainability Director
 No public comment
 c. Establish Committee Work Plan
 No public comment
4. Other Business

Sustainability& Transportation MEMBERS
Committee Agenda Councilor Regina Phillips, Chair
 Councilor Pious Ali, At-Large
February 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM
 Councilor Anna Bullett, District 4




The Sustainability and Transportation
Committee will conduct this meeting
remotely via Zoom. Allow your computer to
install the free Zoom app to get the best
meeting experience. If you are not able to
attend live either in person or via Zoom, a
recording will be available in the Agenda
Center following the meeting.

If the Chair calls for public comment via
Zoom, you will need to use the "raise your
hand" feature. To raise your hand via the
telephone, please hit *9. You will be unmuted
by the host if you are called to comment.

https://portlandmaine-
gov.zoom.us/j/84037714117?pwd=7GYGzIY
eNTv8m9vkCusJH2ftHjWtVz.1




1. Review and approve minutes from January 14, 2026


 a. Minutes from January 14, 2026
2. Sustainability Program Updates


 a. February 2026 Updates
 b. Report on the Electrify Everything! Initiative
 Report on 2025 Neighborhood Mini Grant program
3. Presentation and Discussion
 Public comment may be taken
 a. Update regarding the Fitzpatrick Statium Sound System
 Presenter: Angela O'Connor
 No public comment will be taken




 Page 1
 b. Review Five Years of One Climate Future
 Presenter: Troy Moon, Sustainability Director
 No public comment
 c. Establish Committee Work Plan
 No public comment
4. Other Business




 Page 2
 CITY OF PORTLAND, MAINE
 Committee on Sustainability and Transportation
 Councilor Regina Phillips (D3), Chair
 Councilor Pious Ali (At-Large)
 Councilor Anna Bullett (D4)


Draft Minutes January 14, 2026
Members Present: Councilor Ali, Councilor Bullett, Councilor Phillips
Staff Present: Greg Jordan, Troy Moon, Mike Murray, Greg Watson, Tony Wirkus, Jeremiah
Bartlett, Keith Gray, Ethan Hipple, Masi Ngidi-Brown, Katie Tims

The meeting was called to order.

November 12, 2025, Meeting Minutes
The November 12, 2025, meeting minutes were approved unanimously.

Sustainability Updates
Presented by Troy Moon, Sustainability Office
On December 3, Mayor Dion presented GMRI with a City Council resolution formalizing
collaboration on climate resilience, blue economy development, and infrastructure electrification.

The City and GMRI also launched the Resilience Education Signs project (with 60 signs
installed across POrtland) that link to a comprehensive story map to educate members of the
public about resilient infrastructure.

Issued an RFP for a consultant to conduct a shoreline inventory from the Falmouth townline to
the Cape Elizabeth town line including the Portland islands. This assessment will be critical for
future resilience planning.

The City was also awarded a grant from the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership to conduct a
workshop on Great Diamond Island focused on upland management techniques that protect
coastal bluffs and coastal infrastructure from erosion.Collaborating with island residents and
Island Institute to share educational information and best practices with other coastal property
landowners and landscape designers.

Recently met with Casco Bay High School students as they embarked on their “Climate Change
Expedition” to learn more about local climate change efforts and public policy.

Collaborated with Maine Audubon and the Equality Community Center on their urban nature
walk to learn about urban nature habitats and facilitate a community cleanup.

Completed with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government to survey Portland residents in
Bayside to conduct community engagement and input on climate change concerns.




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Hosted two webinars in December on onsite energy and proactive investment in energy
efficiency, specifically for commercial and industrial building owners.

Hosted our last two Coffee & Climates with Goodwill Northern New England about the donation
cycle and a webinar about Climate Resilience Overlay Zoning with Portland and South Portland
planning staff.

Transportation Updates
Presented by Mike Murray, Keith Gray, Jeremiah Bartlett, Public Works
Complete streets policy update: An interdepartmental team from Planning & Urban
Development and DPW has begun reviewing the existing technical manual to identify potential
updates to city street standards.

Franklin Street Transportation & Land Use Concept: Initial work is completed on the future build
concept, still in discussions with MaineDOT. Planning to share the design concept with the
public as soon as possible.

Libbytown Safety and Accessibility Project: The funding has been rescinded and coordinating
with MaineDOT to explore alternative funding sources.

To advance the Council’s Complete Streets and Vision Zero priorities, the City was awarded a
$2,120,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant to support the Brighton Avenue Safety
and Demonstration Project. Next steps are meeting with FHWA to get a better understanding of
the parameters and process for this work to set the scope and next steps for the city.

Forrest Avenue: Morrill’s Corner (Smart Corridor Study: Phase II): MaineDOT is scheduling
updated transportation data collection in the spring and the City the City is finalizing a
preliminary scope to do a demonstration of this portion of Forest Avenue in association with a
MaineDOT paving project in 2026.

Forest Avenue: Marginal Way to Park Avenue (Smart Corridor Study: Phase III): This effort is
now being managed by MaineDOT in coordination with State and High to ensure coordination
between these efforts. Emphasizing this project is to improve multi-modal safety.

Forest Avenue: Bedford Street to Woodford Street (Smart Corridor Study: Phase IV): The
Planning Department is leading this project with the focus on a short-term redesign concept to
align with an expected paving project within the next five years, to include a ‘road diet’ that
would reduce lanes and allow in-street bike lanes. Currently funded for feasibility only.

State & High Street Two-Way Conversion: City has requested MaineDOT establish a Two-Party
Agreement, also directed by the Council. Design has begun on this project with a goal of more
public input in early 2026 at this time. In addition, via a public meeting and public survey, the




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direction of bicycle facilities has been determined (two one way separated bicycle facilities from
York to Congress portion), with a communication to be created in the near future.

Union Branch and Union Branch Connector Pathways: The Union Branch Phase II project is
currently in a short pause with the rescission of the federal grant funding the Libbytown project.

West Commercial Street Pathway: The City will submit a draft design RFP to MaineDOT for
review and comment late in January 2026 with a goal of the project being under design the
second half of 2026.

Comprehensive Transportation Plan: the City received 9 interviews and plans to do on-site
interviews with the top scoring teams.

Councilor Bullett asked what is holding up the Rosemont Corner becoming a roundabout and
how it intersects with the plans for BRT?

Keith Gray answered that it is hard to determine a stopping point on the study and design phase
without fully understanding BRT implications.

Councilor Bullett asked if future BRT projects are part of the conversation for all the current work
planned for Forest Ave?

Assistant City Manager, Greg Jordan, answered that GPCOG led a study of the most
advantageous corridors in the region to support BRT and Forrest Avenue & Brighton Avenue
were both ranked highly.

Vision Zero Implementation Progress Report
Presented by Assistant City Manager, Greg Jordan​
Assistant City Manager, Greg Jordan, provided an overview of the 2025 Annual Crash Report
and the Vision Zero Quick Action Plan, highlighting new progress updates since viewed last
November. Updates included Portland being awarded $2.1M from US DOT’s Safe Streets for All
grant program to design, implement, evaluate, and document a 6-month demonstration of safety
countermeasures along 1 mile of Brighton Ave. Other updates included Portland awarded
several rounds of state funding from Maine Department of Public Safety to support traffic
enforcement as well as the 2026 CIP transportation projects being leveraged to support Vision
Zero communications. Also, City staff will develop a prioritized list of arterial and collector speed
studies with priority placed on the high crash and/or high injury network. Staff will develop a
phasing plan for requests made to MaineDOT and studies which city staff can undertake
internally. Jordan expressed gratitude to the advocates across the city who have submitted
several recommendations and appreciate their contributions and concern to this issue.

Councilor Bullett asked if “pedestrian headstart” means extending crossing times to be longer?




 Page 5
Jeremiah Barltett answered that it means making sure the crossing distances are in compliance
with the newest requirements as well as lead pedestrian intervals where the pedestrian signals
are phased before car signals to increase pedestrian visibility.

Councilor Bullett asked if legally allowing “right on red” causes more accidents?

Jeremiah Bartlett stated that documentation suggests "right on red" can increase danger, and
this is an ongoing discussion with MaineDOT to determine where restrictions are appropriate
during current design projects.

Councilor Bullett asked if the Vision Zero communications aligned with Statewide
communications will still be unique to Portland and follow city branding?

Director of Communications, Jessica Grondin, stated she is working with the design team and
that it will still have Portland’s unique branding.

Councilor Phillips asked if there is evidence that flashing stop signs help to reduce accidents
more than regular stop signs?

Assistant City Manager Jordan answered that all solutions are on the table in terms of improving
safety. Director Mike Murray stated that in higher traffic areas the red flashing stop signs did
improve motorist compliance, but the effectiveness is based on the volume of traffic in the
intersection.

Kiwanis Pool Naming
Presented by Councilor Phillips, Masi Ngidi-Brown, and other members of the naming
committee
Public comment will be taken

In October 2025, the City Council approved Order 67-25/26, which amended City Code Chapter
26 to outline a process for the naming of City assets. A community engagement campaign
invited residents to participate by suggesting potential names for the new community pool. A
public survey was open throughout the month of November and roughly 80 submissions were
received. The Naming Committee met twice in December to review the submissions from the
public and those from Committee members.

The Naming Committee is pleased to present the Sustainability & Transportation Committee
with the following name recommendations for their consideration: Rising Eddy Community Pool,
Lois Galgay Reckitt Community Pool, and Resurgam Community Pool.

Public Comment on Kiwanis Pool Naming
Seeing no one wishing to make public comments, the comment period was closed.

Comments from Councilors




 Page 6
Councilor Bullett thanked the public for submitting the community pool names. Councilor Bullett
shared her preference was the first option, Rising Eddy Community Pool.

Councilor Ali supported the first name.

Councilor Ali motioned to choose the first option, Rising Eddy Community Pool, to bring before
the full council for a final vote. Councilor Bullett seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.

Strategy for City Energy Efficiency and Onsite Renewable Deployment
Presented by Director of Sustainability, Troy Moon
Director Moon reviewed plans to achieve energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission
reduction in line with the City’s climate action plan and the City Council’s goal to have City
operations run on 100% clean energy by 2040. One Climate Future Strategy BE 1.3, Energy
Efficiency Retrofits for City Buildings, describes specific strategies to achieve the necessary
carbon reduction. These include developing a strategic energy management plan for each City
facility that will lay out a path to pursue deep energy retrofits and a plan to transition buildings to
air source heat pumps, geothermal, or other low carbon heating and cooling technologies.
Director Moon shared that the City set the groundwork for this work to begin as part of the CIP
budget approved in 2025 as Parks, Recreation, and Facilities requested $325,000 to develop a
facilities master plan. Staff developed an RFP to find a qualified consultant to evaluate forty
buildings in a thorough top to bottom analysis to determine their condition from structural
components to building exteriors to the control systems and electrical services and wiring. The
selected consultant will also be tasked with helping establish a Computerized Maintenance and
Management System (CMMS) that will help prioritize and track maintenance and retrofit work in
each facility. The assessment will be completed by this Fall 2026 and will have detailed
information to make strategic investments for energy performance and fiscally responsible.

Prior to the completion of the assessments, the City will also issue a separate RFP to identify an
energy projects consultant that is experienced in developing large scale projects for
municipalities and other large institutions. This consultant will help City staff develop a
further RFP that will solicit firms specializing in Energy Savings Performance Contracts
(ESPCs), generally referred to as ESCOs. The energy projects consultant will be tasked with
assisting with the development of the Strategic Energy Management Plans for each facility
recommended in One Climate Future. Director Moon anticipates requesting that the Council
appropriate money from the Climate Action Fund to pay for the energy projects consultant who
will be essential to these projects.

No questions from Councilors for Director Moon.

Committee Work Plan for 2026
Presented by Director Troy Moon and Councilor Phillips
Director Moon reviewed the discussion items for the Committee to decide on for their 2026 work
plan. The goals included: implement Vision Zero/Improve road safety for all users, improve




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energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, merge Land Bank Commission and Parks
Commission, Landcare Ordinance amendments, cruise ships scrubber ban, private parking
transparency, and coal pile ordinance amendments. To implement the Vision Zero plan and
improve road safety for all users, the committee will provide oversight regarding Vision Zero
Implementation, guidance for the comprehensive transportation planning process, review and
update sidewalk material policy, review policies to expand transit options, and review the
sidewalk snow ordinance. To improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, the
committee will review and update the Green Building Code (Ch 6), review and update the
Energy Benchmarking Ordinance, and monitor implementation of City energy projects.

Councilor Bullett suggested adding guidance & rule making for large item pickup by DPW.

Councilor Ali asked if the committee will decide the order for addressing the workplan items.

Councilor Phillips stated that the committee can discuss it and make a draft recommendation of
the order, but they can decide together how they would like to proceed.

Councilor Ali answered that he will email Councilor Phillips.

Director Troy Moon agreed with this strategy and emphasized the timeline is provisional and is
subject to change as needed.

Motion to Adjourn
The motion was moved by Councilor Bullett and seconded by Councilor Ali.
The motion was approved 3-0.

Meeting Adjourned




 Page 8
City of Portland | Sustainability Office
Troy Moon, Director



To: Sustainability and Transportation Committee
 Regina Phillips, Chair




MEETING DATE
February 12, 2026

AGENDA ITEM
Agenda Item #2A– Sustainability Updates

PURPOSE
To update the committee regarding recent activities of the Sustainability Office to
advance Council goals and objectives related to One Climate Future

COMMITTEE WORK PLAN/CITY COUNCIL GOAL ALIGNMENT
These projects implement elements of the One Climate Future Plan or other Council
goals.

BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS

New Team Member!
The Sustainability Office welcomed our new Resilience Corps Fellow, Emma Bordi.
Emma will be helping the office by leading two initiatives - the development of a
historical/educational sign project along Commercial Street’s working waterfront and
the organization of a multi-partner volunteer planting program where residents can
plant appropriate native plants in neighborhood esplanades. She will also help support
our community engagement efforts around composting and food waste diversion,
sustainable landcare, and resilience.

Project: Climate Resilience

We held a pre-proposal meeting with consultants interested in our RFP for conducting
our shoreline inventory and GIS data collection. 18 separate firms were in attendance
indicating strong interest in the project.




 1

 Page 9
Project: Community Education and Engagement

On February 4 Troy Moon and Resilience Corp Fellow Emma Bordi met with the
SustainabilityCommittee of the Peaks Island Council to share information about the
Sustainability Office. We discussed ways to share information with island residents and
how to support volunteers interested in resilience, native plantings, and landcare
practices.

On February 10, Troy Moon presented at Leadership Maine’s Environmental Day to
discuss the City’s climate and resilience goals. The Leadership Maine cohort is a diverse
group of leaders from local businesses and non-profit organizations who are interested
in developing their skills and learning more about issues affecting the region.

We hosted Coffee & Climate celebrating “Five Years of One Climate Future” on January 16.
Upcoming Coffee & Climate webinars include:
 ●​ “Climate Resilience in Gulf of Maine Fisheries” with Zach Whitener, Senior
 Research Associate & Vessel Safety Officer at GMRI on February 13
 ●​ “What’s Powering Your Electric Bill” with Charlie Agnew of Competitive Energy
 Services on March 20
 ●​ “The Future of Solar in Maine” with a panel of experts on April 10
 ●​ “Ecological Gardening and Value of Messiness” with Kelly Corbin, an ecological
 landscape consultant on May 8

Visit www.oneclimatefuture.org to sign up for our once-a-month newsletter where we
share the upcoming Coffee & Climate topic, information on upcoming events, new
programs launching, and climate action progress in Portland and South Portland.




 2

 Page 10
Empowering Portland: Lessons Learned from
  Portland’s Electrify Everything! Initiative

 City of Portland
 Sustainability Office
 Prepared by Katie Tims

 February 12, 2026




 Page 11
Executive Summary
The City of Portland launched the Electrify Everything! initiative with the mission that is two-fold:
first to spread awareness of the benefits of beneficial electrification and secondly to support
residents in making home electrification and efficiency projects more affordable.

Since its launch, the initiative has evolved through three distinct phases. What began as a
comprehensive bulk-purchase pilot program for homeowners has transformed into a suite of
equity-focused programs designed to reach the majority of Portlanders who rent their homes.
This report details how the Sustainability Office leveraged federal ARPA funding and local
partnerships to transition from broad outreach to targeted, high-impact climate action.



Background
The City of Portland is committed to building a low-carbon, thriving, and inclusive future. With a
significant population of apartment dwellers (comprising more than half of the city's residents)
the City must ensure that climate solutions are accessible to both homeowners and renters
alike. Currently, heating and cooling commercial and residential buildings accounts for 56% of
Portland's greenhouse gas emissions, while on-road transportation contributes another 30%. To
meet our climate goals, the city must address the challenge of decarbonizing homes,
businesses, and vehicles through beneficial electrification.

To address these challenges, the Cities of Portland and South Portland adopted One Climate
Future, a joint climate action and adaptation plan. This plan establishes aggressive carbon
reduction goals, including a commitment to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions
80% below 2017 levels by 2050.

To achieve this, the plan specifically calls for the City to:
 ●​ Launch an electrification incentive program, following a thorough review and research of
 New England air-source heat pump incentive models.
 ●​ Launch a new electrification marketing and incentive program to drive community
 awareness and action.

These directives served as the foundation for the Electrify Everything! initiative, focusing on
improving home energy efficiency and helping residents transition their fossil-fuel-powered
systems to electric ones.

Why Electrify Everything? Maine’s electric grid is one of the cleanest in the country and
continues getting cleaner each year. Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard says that 80% of
our electricity must come from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2040. Still, Maine’s
electricity is produced from a mix of fuel sources that produce greenhouse gas emissions - just
under a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions in Portland come from our electricity. As we
continue to expand the amount of renewable energy on the electrical grid, such as solar and




 Page 12
wind power, the greenhouse gas emissions from electricity will shrink. If Maine continues to hit
its Renewable Portfolio Standard targets, we will reach zero emissions from electricity by 2040.

Therefore, the primary way that we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions involves three steps:
1) Ensuring our systems run as efficiently as possible, 2) Expanding the amount of electricity
that comes from renewable sources, and 3) Switching as many systems that are currently
powered by fossil fuels to electricity, such as transportation and building heating and cooling.
Replacing furnaces and appliances that burn natural gas or oil with electric heat pumps and
heat pump water heaters will take advantage of the decarbonizing grid to dramatically reduce
carbon emissions.

What are the co-benefits of transitioning to electric? Electric systems offer benefits beyond
emissions reductions:
 ●​ They don’t emit pollutants such as small particles, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides
 that can harm people’s health.
 ●​ They save money because they are cheaper to operate and maintain, compared to fossil
 fuel appliances.
 ●​ They are multi-purpose: Air source heat pumps offer heat in the winter and cooling in the
 summer (no need for a separate AC). Heat pump water heaters also dehumidify (no
 need for a separate dehumidifier).
 ●​ They offer more predictable costs on utility bills, whereas fossil fuel prices are
 increasingly volatile and dependent on many global factors.



Program I: Electrify Everything! Pilot

Goal: Help at least 75 homes in Portland install air source heat Issue Addressed:
pumps, heat pump hot water heaters, EV charging stations, Complexity of initiating
and/or solar arrays. With this program, the City also aimed to whole home electrification
 projects
increase community awareness of beneficial electrification and
incentivize residents to take action in electrifying their homes. Cost: $0
The program supports goals identified in One Climate Future to
reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels by supporting Outcome: 105
beneficial electrification and using energy efficiently. electrification or solar
 energy projects

How did it work in Portland?
The vision was a “one-stop-shop” where the City could build awareness of energy efficiency and
beneficial electrification, connect residents to financial incentives (state rebates and federal tax
credits), and promote a single partner who could help residents take steps to electrify their
home.

With no funding, the idea was that a community bulk purchase program would attract a large
number of customers, aggregate demand, and create the opportunity to lower the cost of




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installations for participants. City staff would conduct robust outreach and encourage residents
to schedule a consultation with the partner installer.

After issuing an RFP for a partner who could provide all of the requested services, in March
2022 the Sustainability Office partnered with ReVision Energy, a local full-service solar company
with over 15 years of experience designing, installing, and maintaining solar energy systems in
the region.

Together, the Electrify Everything! Pilot program offered competitive pricing for
 ●​ $500 off Solar panel installation
 ●​ $250 off air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and home EV chargers

These discounts were given in addition to generous rebates and incentives provided by
Efficiency Maine for electric appliances and tax credits available for solar installations.

This was a limited time program, with a sign up period for interested residents. The City helped
connect these residents with ReVision Energy, who offered consultation and transparent pricing,
assisted residents with selecting equipment, and entered into agreements with program
participants for the purchase and installation of equipment. All Portland residents who signed a
contract for installation of eligible appliances before the sign up period deadline received the
discounted cost, based on the amount of equipment community members ultimately committed
to purchasing.

Outcome
Harnessing the purchasing power of Portland residents, the Electrify Everything! Pilot ultimately
resulted in 105 electrification or solar energy projects. The program also helped residents learn
about other programs, such as state incentives and tax credits.

This program builds on the success of weatherize and solarize programs in communities, such
as Charlotte, NC or Washington D.C. The model works because it overcomes typical barriers to
such projects:
 ●​ Complexity: For many people, the most complicated aspect of moving to electrification is
 knowing where to begin and how to access rebates. This program provided an easy
 starting point, clarity of costs and benefits, and access to funding options.
 ●​ Cost Reduction Overall: In exchange for the City’s outreach efforts and a sizable volume
 of projects, the partner contractor was expected to offer competitive pricing discounted
 from typical project prices. The City also worked with the partner contractor to direct
 participants to information about additional financing options and rebates.
 ●​ Incentive Inertia: Residents had to sign a contract with the contractor by the program
 deadline in order to receive the special discounted pricing offer. The promotion push,
 discounts, and deadline served as motivators for residents to begin projects that they
 may have otherwise put off.




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While this program was considered a success because of its outcome, at no cost to the city, it
resulted in limited accessibility for low-income residents and residents who are not homeowners.

Program II: Electrify Bikes!

Goal: The primary goal was to help income-eligible1 Portland Issue addressed:
residents purchase an electric bicycle (e-bike) or electric cargo Affordable, electric
bicycle2 (cargo e-bike) to provide a reliable, practical transportation
transportation option that reduces reliance on fossil fuels. The
 Cost: $157,729.11
program supports One Climate Future goals to reduce vehicle
miles traveled in automobiles and lower carbon emissions from Outcome: 100 individuals
transportation. received discounted e-bikes


How did it work in Portland?
Modeling successful programs in other jurisdictions like Arlington County, Virginia and
Massachusetts, Portland designed an e-bike voucher program in an effort to help provide
affordable and accessible electrified transportation for residents. E-bikes serve as a critical tool
for mode shift, replacing short car trips with a fossil-fuel free alternative. Through the "Electrify
Bikes" program, the City helped income-eligible Portland residents purchase an e-bike or cargo
e-bike by contributing 60% of the cost of the e-bike and eligible accessories3.

The Sustainability Office partnered with local bike shops to offer the program and coordinate
payment. Residents were invited to apply for the program in-person and eligible individuals
received a voucher certificate that allowed them to shop at participating local retailers, applying
their 60% discount at the time of purchase.

In Portland, we tried two iterations of the Electrify Bikes! program.
 ●​ In our first iteration, we announced the program at one of our major annual events and
 shared news of the launch in advance with local non-profits and social services agencies
 who could help spread the word. The response was overwhelming; by the following
 Monday, a line of residents stretched out of the Sustainability Office door. This high
 demand remained constant for nearly three days until the funding cap was reached,
 forcing an abrupt pause to the program. While it proved immense community interest, it
 created significant administrative strain and favored those who could take immediate
 time off to stand in line.
 ●​ During the second iteration of the program, we instead offered a two-week registration
 window where residents could register interest with the Sustainability Office. After a
 period of broad promotion, City staff used a randomized drawing to select participants
 from the pool of registrants. This approach allowed for a fairer distribution of incentives

1
  “Income eligible” was defined as Portland households with an income of up to 80% of local median
income as determined by the most recent years’ HUD-adjusted HOME Income Limits.
2
  “Cargo e-bike” was defined as an extended-frame bicycle with welded-on cargo racks or boxes.
3
  Eligible accessories included bicycle lights, locks, reflectors, reflective/high visibility apparel, helmets,
and racks/cargo carriers purchased with an eligible e-bike.




 Page 15
 and a more manageable pace for staff, though it resulted in a slightly lower sense of
 urgency for some participants to redeem their certificates.

Regardless of the iteration, all participants were required to apply in person to verify income
eligibility and residency, ensuring the program reached the intended priority populations.


 First Iteration Second Iteration

 Launch Model First come first serve Randomized Drawing

 Timeline April 2023 March 2025 - November 2025

 Maximum Standard e-bike: $1,500 Standard e-bike: $1,500
 incentive Cargo e-bike: $3,000 Cargo e-bike: $2,500

 Outcome 64 bikes 36 bikes

 Pros High community interest Fairer opportunity for all
 demonstrated

 Challenges Administratively burdensome; line out Diminished urgency to redeem
 the door


Outcome
This program successfully reduced the high up-front cost barrier for residents who otherwise
could not afford an e-bike. By requiring participants to purchase from local bike shops, the
program also supported the local business economy and ensured residents had a place for
professional assembly and future maintenance.

After distributing a survey to all participants who purchased an e-bike, we received feedback
from residents sharing their stories of how they were able to opt out of getting a second vehicle
or were able to swap their second vehicle for an e-bike. The program also allowed families the
chance to commute with their children to daycare and then to work, reducing the reliance on
fossil fuels and creating a fun and exciting routine for their children.




  “We can take both our kids to/from daycare
 from the West End to Back Cove just as “[I] Can get farther than I would
 quickly as if we were driving. It's saved us on a conventional bike. AND
 money and helped us all spend more time I’m not using fossil fuels!”
 outside. We are in love with our e-bike!”




 Page 16
 “This bike has had a dramatic impact
 “Its a great bike, and is truly a car
 on my life. I drive so much less, and
 replacement vehicle.”
 see so much more!


Survey results also showed that participants’ primary uses for their e-bikes were for commuting
or daily needs (running errands, grocery shopping), and the top cited benefits experienced as a
result of using the bike included reduced environmental impact, reduced vehicle
use/dependency, faster and more convenient, and cost savings on transportation.

Both iterations of the Electrify Bikes! program met its goals because the model intentionally
focused on the following:
 ●​ Reduced Out-of-Pocket Expenses: The City worked with local bike shops to ensure that
 the incentive was applied at point-of-sale, which reduced the barrier to participation for
 those who may not be able to afford the initial cost even anticipating a rebate later on.
 ●​ Helped Fewer People More: While many programs prioritize broad participation, they
 often fail to address the prohibitive upfront costs for low or moderate-income
 households. By increasing the incentive for fewer participants, we ensure the program
 actually bridges the financial gap for those who need it most, rather than just subsidizing
 those who could already afford to bridge it themselves.

Ultimately, the pivot to a randomized drawing in the second iteration was more successful
because it immediately improved fairness, evolved from community feedback, and significantly
reduced the administrative burden on City staff.



Program III: DIY Electrify!

Goal: The goal of the DIY Electrify! program was to help Issue Addressed: High
income-eligible4 Portland residents purchase materials for home energy costs and emissions
weatherization or small electric appliances that reduce fossil fuel for residents, specifically
 apartment dwellers
consumption. This program was designed with renters in mind,
as more than half of Portland, ME’s population lives in Cost: $40,979.85
apartments. The program supports goals identified in One
Climate Future to reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels by Outcome: 181 individuals
supporting beneficial electrification and using energy efficiently. received rebates


How did it work in Portland?
Launched in March 2024, "DIY Electrify" provided rebates of up to $250 per household for
specific weatherization, electrification and efficiency items.



4
  “Income eligible” was defined as Portland households with an income of up to 80% of local median
income as determined by the most recent years’ HUD-adjusted HOME Income Limits.




 Page 17
Income-eligible Portland residents were able to shop for the eligible items at any vendor,
including online retailers. After purchase, eligible residents brought their receipts to City Hall to
apply in-person. Staff verified item eligibility and processed rebate checks through the City
Finance Department.
 Products That Were Eligible for Rebate

 ●​ Weatherstripping ●​ Duct insulation ●​ Foam board insulation
 tapes and sealants ●​ Duct sealant ●​ Portable induction
 ●​ Door seals and ●​ Water tank insulation cooktop
 sweeps wrap ●​ LED light bulbs
 ●​ Window and door ●​ Smart thermostats ●​ ENERGY
 caulking ●​ Cellular window STAR-certified
 ●​ Caulking gun shades appliances
 ●​ Spray foam sealant ●​ Rechargeable ●​ Countertop
 ●​ Window insulation batteries dishwasher (energy
 shrink film kits ●​ Reel lawn mower (no efficient)
 ●​ Pipe insulation engine) ●​ Heat pump clothes
 ●​ Electric cooking ●​ Electric lawn tools dryer
 appliances5 ●​ Power strip ●​ Window Dressers
 ●​ Outdoor clothesline ●​ Rechargeable power insulating window
 ●​ Clothes drying rack station inserts


Outcome
Over the course of eight months, the program provided 181 individuals with rebates, with 74%
of those individuals reporting they were renters/apartment dwellers.

The model works because it provided:
 ●​ Individual Agency: By offering a variety of low-cost solutions, this program gave
 residents immediate control over aspects of their energy use and comfort.
 ●​ Consumer Confidence: Transparent program information and a wide variety of options
 allowed residents to take manageable "next steps" in their electrification journey.

Despite consistent, robust outreach, this program did not have strong initial takeup. Even after
sending mailers to every residential address in the City, we did not have many participants come
in to apply. After several months, eventually, news of the program spread through word of
mouth. Don’t forget how powerful that tool is.Initial participation in the program was weak,
despite consistent and robust outreach efforts, including mailing information to every residential
address in the city. After several months, however, program participation eventually increased
as news spread effectively through word of mouth, underscoring the power of patience and
community.



5
 Eligible cooking appliances required that its use must be cooking/heating (e.g., Instant pot, rice cooker,
electric kettle, pressure cooker).




 Page 18
Summary
The three programs under the Electrify Everything! umbrella demonstrate that a
"one-size-fits-all" approach is insufficient for truly just climate transition. By analyzing the
outcomes of these programs, we have identified three key takeaways for future municipal
action:
 ●​ Economic Equity: The initial pilot cost the City $0 but failed to reach low-income
 residents because it relied on homeowner-funded projects. In contrast, direct incentives
 used in the Electrify Bikes! program successfully removed the "up-front cost" barrier for
 priority populations.
 ●​ Renter Engagement: By offering rebates for portable appliances like induction cooktops
 and low-cost weatherization tools, the DIY Electrify! program saw 74% participation from
 apartment dwellers, a group often left out of traditional electrification efforts.
 ●​ Thoughtful Design Improves Equity: Moving from a "first-come, first-serve" model to a
 "randomized drawing" for e-bike incentives ensured a fairer opportunity for the
 community and managed administrative burdens more effectively.

Ultimately, the Electrify Everything! initiative shows that the transition to a clean energy future is
as much about social equity as it is about technology. By evolving from a broad,
homeowner-centric pilot to targeted, accessible programs like Electrify Bikes! and DIY Electrify!,
Portland has demonstrated that climate action can be made inclusive for all residents,
regardless of their income level or housing status.

Our experience highlights that direct, point-of-sale incentives are the most effective tool for
removing the "up-front cost" barriers that traditionally exclude low-income populations from
participating in government rebate programs. Furthermore, we have learned that renters are an
eager and untapped resource. When provided with portable, low-cost options like induction
cooktops and weatherization kits, they participate at high rates, proving that apartment dwellers
are ready to make efforts to improve their homes efficiency.

As the City of Portland continues to work toward the One Climate Future goal of reducing
emissions 80% by 2050, these programs will serve as the blueprint for future policy. By
prioritizing thoughtful and intentional program design, we can ensure that the path to 100%
renewable energy is one that every Portland resident can make together.




 Page 19
Sustainable Neighborhoods Mini Grant Report 2025
 February 12, 2026
 Prepared by Karly Masucci Meyer




 Page 20
Background
Climate change is expected to amplify challenges that many Portland residents already face,
including financial, food, and housing insecurity, as well as strain on physical and mental health.
Research consistently shows that communities with strong social connections are better
prepared for and recover more quickly from severe challenges such as extreme weather events,
natural disasters, and other emergencies.1 For example, studies following Superstorm Sandy
found that social network connectedness, trust, and community cohesion were critical factors in
how effectively neighborhoods shared information, supported one another, and recovered after
the storm.2 The City of Portland recognizes social resilience as a core component of climate
preparedness in the city’s joint climate action plan, One Climate Future. The One Climate Future
strategy CR2.5: Neighborhood Resources calls for establishing a small grants program to
support projects that build community strength, health, and resilience with an emphasis on
prioritizing projects benefitting communities disproportionately affected by climate change,
including residents with low or no income, New Mainers, people of color, youth, older adults,
and residents living with disabilities.

The City of Portland Sustainability Office launched its first Neighborhood Mini Grants
program in July 2025 and successfully awarded twenty-nine Mini Grants to teams of residents
and neighborhood organizations, supporting projects, events, or programs that foster
collaboration and strengthen social connections among neighbors. Portland residents were
invited to apply as teams of at least three people or on behalf of neighborhood organizations for
small grants of up to $500 to fund their project ideas. The twenty-nine grant funded projects
spanned a wide range of activities from lively neighborhood fall festivals and hands-on bicycle
repair workshops to native pollinator plantings and language exchange meetups. Projects were
implemented in each district across Portland and collectively reached over a thousand residents
who helped plan or attend mini grant funded events or activities.

Program Design & Goals
The Neighborhood Mini Grant Program was designed to support initiatives led by community
members that allow neighbors to develop stronger social connections by collaborating on
neighborhood-scale projects, events, and programs.

The core goals of the Mini Grant Program are to:
 ●​ Foster stronger, closer-knit relationships within neighborhoods and local communities
 ●​ Build resilience, equity, and self-sufficiency in local communities
 ●​ Promote environmental stewardship and green practices at the neighborhood scale
 ●​ Improve communities’ environmental, social, and economic health




1
  “Stronger Together: How Social Resources Influence Disaster Recovery Outcomes.” NORC at the
University of Chicago
2
  “Stronger Together: How Social Resources Influence Disaster Recovery Outcomes.” NORC at the
University of Chicago




 Page 21
Outreach Strategy
The Neighborhood Mini Grant Program was promoted through a multi-channel outreach
strategy designed to reach diverse groups of Portland residents. Information was hosted on the
City of Portland website and shared across social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and
LinkedIn) through both City of Portland and Sustainability Office accounts, generating strong
engagement with over 15,000 views and more than 200 shares on Instagram. The program was
also featured in the City’s Friday RoundUp email and text newsletter, the “News” section of the
City website, and the One Climate Future Newsletter, reaching thousands of additional
residents.

To expand outreach through trusted community networks, a “spread the word” email was sent to
neighborhood associations, community organizations, and City departments to encourage
inclusion in their newsletters. The Sustainability Office coordinated with Avesta Housing to help
share the opportunity with residents in affordable housing communities. Printed
flyers—translated into three additional languages—were distributed in community spaces such
as coffee shops, grocery stores, laundromats, and community centers. In-person outreach was
also conducted through tabling at four Wayside Pop-up Picnics, allowing staff to connect directly
with residents, answer questions, and encourage participation.

Application Process & Selection
The City received fourty-four applications in total and awarded twenty-nine mini grants.
Applications were scored using four established criteria, which evaluated project alignment with
program goals, community impact, inclusivity and accessibility, and feasibility to be completed in
90 days. This process allowed staff to prioritize projects that demonstrated strong community
leadership, meaningful opportunities for connection, and benefits to populations most vulnerable
to climate impacts.

Funded Projects & Community Impact
The first round of Mini Grant recipients reflected a wide range of project types including
gatherings and festivals, skill sharing workshops, gardening and native plantings, crafting, and
cultural exchanges. Collectively, these projects created spaces for neighbors to meet,
collaborate, share skills, celebrate culture, steward the environment, and build trust with one
another. The Mini Grants served as a catalyst for neighbors to take meaningful action in their
community, serving as entry points for residents who may not otherwise engage or participate in
more formal civic projects. Mini Grant recipients were required to complete a brief Report Form
to share how many people participated in their project, how it impacted their neighborhood, any
successes and challenges faced, testimonials from participants, and photos of their
project/event. With four projects extended into this spring, twenty-five mini-grant projects have
been successfully completed and engaged approximately 1,004 residents as organizers or
participants across Portland. Explore all of the funded projects with descriptions and images in
the Mini Grants interactive map.

The twenty-nine funded projects included:




 Page 22
 ●​ Introduction to Nature Journaling Workshop
 ●​ Rosemont Neighborhood Community Candlemaking
 ●​ Peaks Island WindowDresser Community Workshop
 ●​ Scary Stories & Dance Party
 ●​ Inaugural Pet Costume Parade and Block Party
 ●​ Nason's Corner + Rosemont Fall Festival
 ●​ Libbytown Neighborhood Book Club
 ●​ Block Party for Ivy, Wayne, and Fairview Streets
 ●​ Woodford's Corner Community Gardens
 ●​ Bramblewood Block Party
 ●​ Peaks Island Park Open House and Celebration!
 ●​ Munjoy Hill Community Oral History Project
 ●​ Common Share Garden Drip Irrigation System
 ●​ Garden Revitalization Project
 ●​ Munjoy Hill Vision Zero Project
 ●​ Pathways Project at Bayside Community Garden
 ●​ Rowe Avenue Bucket Brigade Garden
 ●​ The Big Story Day
 ●​ Community Contra Dance and Picnic
 ●​ Powerful ARRMS! (altering, repairing, repurposing, mending, swapping)
 ●​ Halloween Monster Mash Bash Celebration
 ●​ Friend Church Portland
 ●​ Fort Sumner Native Plant Garden
 ●​ East Bayside Community Cleanup
 ●​ Bicycle Repair & Maintenance Workshops
 ●​ Community Plate: Bringing Three Communities Together
 ●​ Parkside Native Pollinator Planting Project
 ●​ Charlando East End
 ●​ Allen’s Corner Community Pocket Park

Highlights from some of the Mini Grant projects:

The Libbytown Neighborhood Book Club brought neighbors together to read and discuss the
book, A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit, sparking meaningful conversations about
climate change, mutual care, and collective response over multiple gatherings. A participant
shared that, “the mini grant enabled us to not only meet each other but also to make an informal
emergency network. When faced with the water being shut off or losing power, we can reach out
to find who needs help. We are a more resilient community because of it.” This project bolstered
a strong interest for more regular informal meetups like monthly potlucks at people’s houses and
led to the creation of a neighbors directory and spreadsheet where neighbors can share skills,
tools, and books.




 Page 23
Images above feature participants from the Libbytown Neighborhood Book Club.

For the Rowe Avenue Bucket Brigade Garden project, neighbors teamed up to grow food and
plants in buckets along Rowe Avenue, turning their street into a shared community garden. The
Bucket Brigade Garden kicked off with a launch event, including food, games, and cider
pressing with over 30 neighbors in attendance. The group distributed seeds, soil, buckets
plastered with, “Together we gROWE,” logo to neighbors interested in participating. One
neighbor shared how, “the buckets became an instant ice-breaker,” among neighbors and how,
“people stopped to ask what we were doing, and before we knew it, they were signing up for
one.” The project continues to foster community, inviting neighbors to check in on one another
and their gardening progress.




The images above feature neighbors from the Rowe Avenue Bucket Brigade Garden project
and their project logo.




 Page 24
West End neighbors teamed up to create Powerful A.R.R.M.S. (altering, repairing, repurposing,
mending, swapping), which hosted a series of three community workshop events for neighbors
to learn how to mend and repair clothing items together. The series included three workshops
on repairing & mending, repurposing, and altering & swapping. With over thirty participants
attending the workshops, neighbors were able to learn and exchange practical skills in a
welcoming, hands-on environment while meeting and connecting with fellow neighbors. A
participant shared that, “I felt very empowered! There were plenty of knowledgeable people to
help, but they also told me what to do instead of doing it for me.” Another shared how the
workshops created a space for, “community building and learning from each other.” The popular
workshops evolved into a monthly series at the Reiche Community Center in the West End.




The images above feature participants learning to mend and repair clothing at Powerful
A.R.R.M.S. workshops.

Conclusion
The inaugural round of the Sustainable Neighborhoods Mini Grant Program demonstrates the
power of small investments in catalyzing meaningful, community-led action. With twenty-nine
projects funded reaching over a thousand community members, the program successfully
mobilized residents across Portland to collaborate with their neighbors to design and organize
creative projects and events for their neighborhoods. The grants led to ongoing engagement
with projects; for example, the Libbytown Neighborhood Book Club created an emergency
network and planned more informal, regular meetups, the Powerful A.R.R.M.S. workshops
became a monthly series, and inaugural events like the Bayside Howl-o-ween Fest plan to
become annual traditions. Another outcome of this program has been strengthening the




 Page 25
relationship between the City of Portland and Portland residents by recognizing and supporting
the work of civically engaged community members. The program's success demonstrates that
investing in neighborhood initiatives designed and led by residents themselves encourages
sustained social cohesion and greater social resilience, enhancing Portland’s climate
preparedness and recovery in the future.




 Page 26
City of Portland | Sustainability Office
Troy Moon, Director



To: Sustainability and Transportation Committee
 Regina Phillips, Chair




MEETING DATE
2/12/2026

AGENDA ITEM
Agenda Item #2B

PURPOSE
To update the committee on progress made since the adoption of the City’s climate
action and adaptation plan, One Climate Future.

COMMITTEE WORK PLAN/CITY COUNCIL GOAL ALIGNMENT
These projects implement elements of the One Climate Future plan and other Council
goals.

BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
Five years ago, the Cities of Portland and South Portland joined forces to create and adopt
One Climate Future, a bold roadmap charting a course to reduce community-wide
greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 and use 100% clean energy for municipal
operations by 2040, while building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

With One Climate Future as a road map, we have been able to make significant strides
toward realizing our “Six Big Moves” – these are high impact, cross-cutting initiatives
that touch on multiple aspects of our climate plan. Together, we have partnered with
other departments, community organizations, citizens, and businesses to:

Power Everything With Clean Renewable Energy
  ●​ EV charging capacity: Portland has installed 44 EV chargers, including eight DC
 fast chargers. We updated our Technical Manual to require streamline installation
 of EV charging and require its installation for all new parking lots (with five or
 more spaces).




 1

 Page 27
 ●​ Clean, renewable energy: Solar projects the City owns or has offtake agreements
 with have generated more than 45 million kWh of solar power during the past 5
 years. This has resulted in savings of over three million dollars. In addition, the
 offsite projects generate Renewable Energy Credits, the sale of which provide
 funds for the Climate Action Fund established by the City Council.
 ●​ Electrify Everything!: Our flagship rebate program, Electrify Everything!, has
 supported 105 home electrification projects and distributed $198,700 to 291 low &
 moderate income residents for e-bikes, heat pumps, energy efficient appliances,
 home weatherization, and more, making clean technology accessible to all.

Build Community Resilience and Collaborative Capacity
 ●​ Improved risk knowledge: We developed an innovative hydrodynamic model of
 coastal flood risk to inform key policies, such as our ReCode and the Coastal Flood
 Resilience Overlay Zone.
 ●​ Public education and outreach: We created tools to communicate about climate
 risks so that residents can engage in decisions that shape our communities. For
 example, we’ve installed signage at sixty sites throughout the City to educate
 residents and visitors about resilience initiatives, with more planned.
 ●​ Social resilience: Portland launched the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program to
 empower residents to come together, build relationships, and take collective
 action in their neighborhoods. The program provides free block party kits and
 cleanup kits, supporting twenty block parties and thirty-one neighborhood
 cleanups thus far. The first round of Neighborhood Mini Grants awarded
 twenty-nine grants citywide for neighbor-led projects that foster collaboration
 and strengthen social connection.

Reduce Waste and Grow a Circular Economy
 ●​ Food waste recycling: The City established 10 free, composting drop-off sites that
 have diverted over 2.2 million pounds of food scraps from the waste stream.
 ●​ Growing the sharing economy: We have supported seven repair fairs, where
 neighbors were able to learn and exchange practical repair and mending skills.
 Two of these community-led repair groups have evolved into monthly events.

Build Better Buildings
 ●​ Building codes: In 2021, Portland adopted the state’s first Energy Stretch Code,
 improving the efficiency of new buildings by 30-35%.
 ●​ Development standards: Portland has proactively adopted development
 standards to ensure that new development is efficient, connected, and resilient in
 the face of climate change. Through the ReCode process, the City created Transit




 2

 Page 28
 Oriented Zones, enhanced stormwater and heat mitigation requirements,
 eliminated parking minimums, and adopted parking maximums.
 ●​ Energy benchmarking: Portland’s Energy Benchmarking Ordinance also helps
 large building owners make more informed decisions to enhance the energy
 efficiency of their buildings and is a crucial step towards decarbonizing our
 building sector.

Nourish Ecosystems Which Nourish Us
  ●​ Landcare management: The City of Portland has worked to improve water quality
 and increase native plants and biodiversity through their adoption of Landcare
 Management Ordinances and soil quality standards for new development.
  ●​ Urban tree canopy: Portland has made dedicated efforts to mitigate high heat
 through a more robust, equitable tree canopy. Over the last five years, the Forestry
 team has planted 892 trees, prioritizing low-equity urban areas.

Connect People to Places, to Opportunity
 ●​ Transit-oriented development: Laying the foundation for a sustainable
 transportation network, the City has focused on adding density, incentivizing
 development around transit corridors, and promoting biking and walking.
 ●​ Safe and accessible transportation: Initiatives such as Complete Streets and
 Vision Zero Portland set the vision for safe, accessible transportation networks
 that we are working towards.
 ●​ Public transit: South Portland took a large step to coordinate and expand transit
 in 2024 by merging South Portland Bus Service with Greater Portland METRO.
 Portland residents will benefit from better service and access to additional
 locations

One Climate Future has delivered meaningful and tangible progress. More than 70% of
the climate strategies included in the plan are underway. Having an adopted plan has
made us more competitive when applying for grants which has brought in over $4
million of external funding to help advance our goals. Funded projects include
important stormwater resilience initiatives, Sustainable Neighborhoods grant awards,
and waste reduction initiatives.

As one of the first multi-city climate action plans in the country, One Climate Future
broke new ground and has served as a national model for regional cooperation, sharing
lessons learned and serving as a resource for neighboring municipalities. We have
formed coalitions and testified before the state legislature to enact policy change and
remove barriers to local climate action. This work has all been the result of coordinated
efforts and robust partnerships with organizations at the local, regional, and state level.



 3

 Page 29
By investing in people, we have created a solid foundation for carrying out the work of
One Climate Future.

FISCAL IMPACT
n/a

CONCLUSION(S)
During the past five years the City has made important progress toward achieving the
goals established in One Climate Future but there is still much work to do. Many of the
strategies require ongoing action over the long-term, as well as partnerships with other
levels of government to realize their full impact. As noted in our presentation of the
Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory last year, emissions from the building
sector have fallen by 14% while emissions from the transportation sector have increased
since our benchmark year of 2017. This underscores the importance of continued
advocacy for Federal and State policies that help achieve our objectives. Some key
examples include:

 ●​ Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard: In 2025, the passage of LD 1868 increased
 Maine’s RPS from 80 percent by 2030 to 90 percent by 2040 and added a
 complementary 10 percent clean energy standard to reach 100 percent clean
 energy by 2040. This provides the policy foundation for the City’s beneficial
 electrification strategy, that calls for encouraging residents and businesses to
 switch to electric technologies for heating, cooling, and transportation. This will
 be the primary means to reduce emissions from City operations in order to
 achieve the goal to run City operations on 100% clean energy by 2040.

 ●​ Strong support for rebates and incentives from Efficiency Maine: While Federal
 support for energy efficiency and renewable energy has subsided, Maine
 continues to provide valuable support to residents and businesses who want to
 reduce energy use as well as energy cost. With limited funding available for local
 incentives, these resources are vital to continue and accelerate progress towards
 reducing building emissions.

 ●​ Maine’s Community Resilience Partnership: The State has worked to support
 Maine municipalities as they plan for future impacts of climate change and has
 provided funding to dozens of communities, including Portland, to implement
 important policies and programs. For instance, we have received funding to
 develop the Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay Zone, to implement elements of
 Electrify Everything!, as well as funding to update our climate vulnerability
 assessment.



 4

 Page 30
 ●​ Transportation: Regional and State partners like GPCOG and the Maine
 Department of Transportation play a vital role in creating a transportation
 network that provides residents with good transportation options other than
 driving a car. We have seen important progress in this regard such as the Rapid
 Transit Study, that is exploring the opportunity for bus rapid transit between
 Portland and Gorham. Both GPCOG and MDOT play a key role in developing and
 implementing regional policy to support transit and active transportation. We
 will continue to advocate with them for policies that can reduce regional vehicle
 miles traveled and to explore opportunities for expanded funding for transit.
 These steps will make executing the Council’s Vision Zero strategy and
 implementing the complete streets policy more impactful by reducing carbon
 emissions and making our transportation network safer and more equitable.

Unfortunately, the current Federal administration has repealed many of the climate and
energy programs begun under the Biden administration that were intended to support
carbon reduction and adaptation. This includes roadblocks for offshore wind, which is
intended to be a large contributor of renewable energy to the State’s power grid. These
roll backs will present obstacles to overcome as we work to achieve our climate goals.

Increased focus on resilience will be essential in the coming years. The devastating
storms of January, 2024 showed us that the impacts of climate change are being felt now.
While we have implemented important policies, such as the CFROZ, to ensure that future
buildings are built in a more resilient manner, there is still much to do to help the
community adapt to the impacts of climate change. The climate vulnerability
assessment of 2019 was a key resource for the development of One Climate Future, but a
lot has changed since then. We are currently implementing a project to update all of the
data sets from the original vulnerability assessment and will be gathering additional
data, including a complete shoreline inventory of the coast between the Falmouth town
line and the Cape Elizabeth town line, including Portland’s islands. Using this
information we will work with the Council, residents, and other stakeholders on how to
prepare the City for rising sea levels, more frequent heat waves, and more intense storm
events. Fortunately, we have a strong partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research
Institute that was formalized by the City Council in December, 2025. This partnership
will help us apply the latest scientific thinking to our resilience efforts and to help us
educate the community about the pace and impacts of climate change. With GMRI’s
support and close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders we will soon begin
identifying specific strategies that will help the City adapt to sea level rise and other
impacts of climate change.




 5

 Page 31
Five years on, we are more committed than ever to implement the guiding principles of
One Climate Future: to build a future that is equitable, regenerative, and resilient in the
face of climate change.

PRIOR COMMITTEE REVIEW
None

PREPARED BY
Troy Moon, Sustainability Director
Katie Tims, Sustainability Associate
ATTACHMENTS

 ●​ 5 Year Summary Slide deck




 6

 Page 32
5 YEARS LATER

 Page 33
ONE CLIMATE FUTURE

 Community-driven climate action plan, One Climate
 Future, adopted in 2020 by Portland & South Portland


 68 strategies across four key areas


 Reduce community-wide GHG emissions by 80% by 2050
 100% clean energy for municipal operations by 2040




 Page 34
5 YEARS OF ONE CLIMATE FUTURE




 70%
 More than 70% of the 68 strategies are
 underway in both cities.




 Page 35
 HIGH IMPACT, LOW COST
We have worked creatively and efficiently to maximize the impact of our work
with minimal municipal tax dollars.




 $4,234,930
 Portland has received $4,234,930 in 13 grants since 2020




 Page 36
BUILDING CAPACITY & ENGAGEMENT


 Coffee &
 Climate
 Monthly newsletter
 Hosted 6 AmeriCorps with 1,685 people and
 Resilience Fellows 85 monthly Coffee &
 Climate webinars




3 Full-Time Staff Page 37
PARTNERSHIPS & REGIONAL LEADER

 National model for regional cooperation


 Advocate at state level to enact legislation &
 remove barriers to local climate action


 Share lessons learned & design our initiatives to
 be replicable in neighboring municipalities




 Page 38
 THE SIX BIG MOVES




1. Renewable Energy 2. Build Resilience 3. Reduce waste




4. Better Buildings 5. Nourish Ecosystems 6. Connect people to places
 Page 39
1. POWER EVERYTHING WITH CLEAN
 RENEWABLE ENERGY




 More than 43 million kWh of solar power generated,
 saving the City of Portland over $3 million.
 Page 40
  EXPANDING EV CHARGING




We have installed 44 EV charging stations since 2021.

 Page 41
 ELECTRIFY EVERYTHING!




$198,710 distributed to 386 low & moderate-income residents for
 e-bikes, heat pumps, energy efficient appliances, and more.
 Page 42
  2. BUILD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE




Portland adopted a Climate Resilience Overlay Zone through ReCode
 Page 43
 SOCIAL RESILIENCE




 10 Block Parties 21 Clean Ups 29 Mini Grants

Portland launched the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program to empower residents to
come together, build relationships, and take collective action in their neighborhoods.
 Page 44
RESILIENCE EDUCATION & OUTREACH




 Portland Resilient Education Project
 Page 45
 3. WASTE REDUCTION




 10 free composting drop off sites that have diverted
over 2.4 million pounds of food scraps from the waste stream.
 Page 46
GROWING A SHARING ECONOMY




 We’ve supported 7 repair meetup events.
 Page 47
 4. BUILD BETTER BUILDINGS
Portland adopted the state’s first Energy Stretch Code improving the efficiency of
new buildings by 30-35%.


Both cities have proactively adopted development standards to ensure that new
development is efficient, connected, and resilient in the face of climate change.




 Page 48
 ENERGY BENCHMARKING
Portland’s Energy Benchmarking Ordinance requires bigger buildings in Portland report
their energy and water usage each year and helps large building owners improve their
energy efficiency.




 Page 49
 5. NOURISH ECOSYSTEMS THAT
 NOURISH US




892 trees planted in Portland Pesticide Ordinance & Landcare Native Planting Workshops &
 Seed Packets
 Page 50
 6. CONNECT PEOPLE TO PLACES




Portland adopted a new land use code, Portland is adding density, development on transit
 ReCode in December of 2024. corridors, and improving walkability & bikeability.


 Page 51
 WHAT’S NEXT...




 Updating our Climate
Vulnerability Assessment

 Comprehensive Mapping Focus on Resilience &
 Tool of Critical Infrastructure Adaptation



 Page 52
@sustainableportlandme

www.oneclimatefuture.org/progress




 Page 53
City of Portland | City Council
Mark Dion, Mayor



Draft 2026 Work Plan for the Sustainability & Transportation
Council Committee




The Portland City Council established its 2026 Common Goals (Attached) on January 26, 2026,
formally communicating its policy priorities for the coming year and setting a foundation for the
development of Council committees’ work plans.

The 2026 schedule currently includes nine (9) meetings for each committee, and the development
of a single, original policy initiative typically takes two or three committee meetings. This




 ft
includes conceptual discussion, review of a draft ordinance or other policy document, and a public
hearing where the committee votes on whether or not to recommend that the City Council adopt
the policy initiative. Based on those constraints, it is recommended that a committee work plan
include no more than five (5) original policy initiatives to start.

In addition to the development and consideration of original policy initiatives, committee work




 ra
will also include consideration of items referred to a committee by the Council or brought by staff,
as well as hosting panels or presentations as needed.

 Sustainability & Transportation Committee​




 Policy Initiative
 2026 Work Plan



 Related Council Goal
 Priority
 Ranking




D1.​ Consider development of Vision Zero
 ordinance, focused on complete streets,
 pedestrian safety, walkability, and
 community engagement.

 2.​ Assess benefits and trade-offs of an
 intersection red light camera pilot program
 to improve safety, and consider developing a
 legislative proposal.




 3.​ Review and recommend to the City Council a
 final conceptual plan for the Reimagine
 Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclist
 Fatalities




 Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclist
 Fatalities


 Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclist
 Fatalities
 Accelerate Housing Production and
 Strengthen Affordability Protections
 TBD




 TBD




 TBD
 Franklin Street project.
 Strengthen Economic Vitality and
 Support Local Businesses




 1

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 4.​ Review and update the Green Building Code Advance the Goals of One Climate
 TBD
 (Chapter 6). Future

 5.​ Review and update the Energy Advance the Goals of One Climate
 TBD
 Benchmarking Ordinance (Chapter 6). Future

 6.​ Review and update the Landcare Ordinance Advance the Goals of One Climate
 TBD
 (Chapter 34). Future




 Sustainability & Transportation Committee
 2026 Calendar (Dates and topics are subject to change)

February 11:
 ●​

March 11:
 ●​

April 15:
 ft
 ●​ ​

May 13:
 ●​

June 10:
 ●​

July 15:
 ra
D ●​

August: No meeting

September 9:
 ●​

October 14:
 ●​

November ?? (TBD)
 ●​

December: No meeting




 2

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City of Portland | Executive Department
Danielle West, City Manager



Portland Common Council
Goals 2026 to Committee
Workplans
Through the 2026 goal-setting process, the Portland City Council has identified six Common
Council Goals that will guide the Council’s collective work this year. These goals represent areas
where councilors expressed shared commitment to advancing meaningful change. During the
goal-setting workshops, councilors also identified concrete actions the Council could consider to
translate these high-level goals into tangible policy work.

The attached chart demonstrates how these priority themes, specific goals, and proposed actions
connect to create an integrated approach to Portland's most pressing challenges. As committees
develop their detailed 2026 workplans, this framework provides a roadmap for ensuring
individual committee work contributes to Council-wide progress. The specific actions identified
by councilors serve as starting points for committee deliberations, with the understanding that
committees may refine, prioritize, or sequence these actions based on capacity, timing, and
emerging opportunities.

The 2026 Common Council Goals represent an ambitious agenda that seeks to make progress on
Portland's most critical needs while building toward long-term community resilience. The
connection between these goals and proposed committee actions provides a clear pathway from
aspiration to implementation, ensuring that the Council's collective vision translates into
meaningful policy change for Portland residents




 389 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101 | 207-874-8300 | info@portlandmaine.gov

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 2026 Common Council Goals Mapped to Council Committees with Potential Actions for Consideration in Committee Workplans

Theme Description Committee Potential Action
 Consider adjustments to inclusionary zoning ordinance to promote housing production.
 Address Portland’s housing challenges by Consider policy amendments to streamline building permit application review and approval.
Accelerate Housing Housing &
 encouraging the development of more
Production and Economic Review Social Housing Task Force recommendations and consider council action on next steps.
 homes and protecting affordability, so
Strengthen Affordability Development
 current and future residents can live and Consider amendment to Duson Trust Fund ordinance to support housing assistance for residents
Protections Committee
 thrive in our community. (e.g., eviction prevention, security deposit assistance).
 Consider amendment to the rent control ordinance to strengthen enforcement.
 Consider council action to support reduction in chronic homelessness by 50% (currently 120
 Decrease the number of people
 Health & people experiencing chronic homelessness) by end of 2026 (e.g., consideration on day shelter,
 experiencing chronic homelessness by
 Human adjustments to charitable food distribution license, regional and state partnerships).
Reduce Chronic advancing policy to enhance support
 Services &
Homelessness systems and address the underlying causes Review missions of city shelter facilities (i.e., Family Shelter, Warming Center).
 Public Safety
 that lead to housing instability in our
 Committee Consider amending the rate of exchange for the needle exchange program with a public health
 community.
 perspective.
 Support Vision Zero plan roll-out with council leadership.

 Create safer streets for all users by Express public support for Franklin Street Arterial plan and implementation.
 Sustainability &
Reduce Pedestrian and advancing policy to prevent traffic deaths
 Transportation Consider development of Vision Zero ordinance, focused on complete streets, pedestrian safety,
Bicyclist Fatalities and injuries while improving accessibility for walkability, and community engagement.
 Committee
 pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users.
 Develop legislative proposal for intersection camera pilot to improve safety to be introduced in the
 2027 State Legislature session.

Support Affordability for Ease the tax burden for Portland residents Consider a policy amendment to expand tax affordability programs such as Portland Senior Tax
All Residents Through by finding new ways to fund city services Finance Equity Program (P-STEP).
New Revenue Policies and providing direct tax relief to households Committee Consider a policy amendment to diversify city revenue streams to offset taxpayer burden (e.g,
and Targeted Tax Relief who need it most. fiscal impact of cruise ships, Payment in Lieu of Taxes).

 Address climate change by cutting carbon
 emissions, expanding clean energy and Sustainability &
Advance the Goals of Consider policy to further advance One Climate Future goals are met (e.g., environmental impacts
 energy-efficient buildings, supporting Transportation
One Climate Future of cruise ships, viability of solar on municipal buildings).
 sustainable transportation, and preparing Committee
 Portland for a resilient, low-carbon future.
 Foster a thriving local economy by Housing & Explore ordinance regulating parking lot advertising and pricing disclosure requirements.
Strengthen Economic
 increasing support for businesses and Economic
Vitality and Support Local Close out council action on Live Nation venue proposal.
 strengthening conditions that help Portland's Development
Businesses
 business community grow. Committee Consider policy to enhance public support for the arts.




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