An Act to Provide Energy Efficiency Program Outreach and Assistance to Manufactured Housing Residents
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0815
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: GOLEK, DAUGHTRY, ANKELES, ARFORD, CLUCHEY, JAUCH, MATHIESON, SACHS, ZAGER, BRENNER
Amends: 30-A MRSA §4722, 35-A MRSA §10118-A, 35-A MRSA §10130

Legislative Document
No. 815
H.P. 504
House of Representatives, February 21, 2023
An Act to Provide Energy Efficiency Program Outreach and 
Assistance to Manufactured Housing Residents
Reference to the Committee on Labor and Housing suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GOLEK of Harpswell.
Cosponsored by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, ARFORD of Brunswick, CLUCHEY of 
Bowdoinham, JAUCH of Topsham, MATHIESON of Kittery, SACHS of Freeport, ZAGER of 
Portland, Senator: BRENNER of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§1, ¶CC, as amended by PL 2017, c. 234, §16, 
is further amended to read:
CC.  Encourage and provide incentives to individuals and entities that conserve energy; 
support and participate, with resources derived from sources except the conservation 
program fund under Title 35‑A, section 10110, subsection 7, in markets that reward 
energy conservation and use the proceeds from this participation to support affordable 
housing programs under its jurisdiction; and create and administer programs that 
encourage individuals and entities to conserve energy;.
In accordance with Title 35-A, section 10118-A, the Maine State Housing Authority 
shall participate in the education program and the provision of outreach services to 
residents of manufactured housing in the State to increase awareness of the energy 
efficiency programs administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine State 
Housing Authority for which the residents may be eligible.
In accordance with Title 35-A, section 10130, the Maine State Housing Authority shall 
participate in the development and implementation of the program to assist low and 
moderate-income homeowners and renters, including residents of manufactured 
housing, to purchase and install energy efficiency measures;
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §10118-A is enacted to read:
§10118-A.  Manufactured housing education program
In coordination with the Maine State Housing Authority established in Title 30-A, 
section 4722, the trust shall develop an education program and provide outreach services 
to residents of manufactured housing in the State to increase awareness of the energy 
efficiency programs administered by the trust and the Maine State Housing Authority for 
which the residents may be eligible. The education program materials must include a 
description of each energy efficiency program for which a manufactured housing resident 
may qualify and the application process for that energy efficiency program. The education 
program materials must also identify any organizations that may assist with the energy 
efficiency program application process. For the purposes of this section, "manufactured 
housing" has the same meaning as in Title 10, section 9002, subsection 7.
Sec. 3.  35-A MRSA §10130 is enacted to read:
§10130.  Residential energy efficiency program
1.  Program.  In coordination with the Maine State Housing Authority established in 
Title 30-A, section 4722, and to the extent that funds are available, the trust shall establish 
and implement a program to assist low and moderate-income homeowners and renters, 
including residents of manufactured housing, to purchase and install energy efficiency 
measures in accordance with this subsection. Under this program, the trust shall:
A.  Determine and provide appropriate grants or loans to assist persons who qualify in 
accordance with paragraph B to purchase and install high-efficiency heat pump 
systems and weatherization products and services;
B.  Establish standards for determining who qualifies under the program and prioritize 
for assistance homeowners and renters the trust determines to have the highest energy 
burdens, live in rural or underserved areas or receive benefits under state or federal 
low-income assistance programs; and
C.  Provide homeowners and renters who may qualify for the program under paragraph 
B with education regarding program eligibility and assistance with program utilization.
2.  Report.  The trust shall submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over energy matters reports on the status of the program as follows: the 
first report must be submitted no later than July 1, 2024, the 2nd report no later than July 
1, 2025 and the 3rd report no later than July 1, 2026.
For the purposes of this section, "manufactured housing" has the same meaning as in 
Title 10, section 9002, subsection 7.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine State Housing Authority 
to develop an education program and conduct outreach to residents of manufactured 
housing, which includes mobile homes, to increase awareness of the energy efficiency 
programs administered by each entity.
This bill requires the Efficiency Maine Trust, in coordination with the Maine State 
Housing Authority, to develop a program to provide grants or loans to assist persons who 
qualify to purchase and install high-efficiency heat pump systems and weatherization 
products and services. The program must prioritize homeowners and renters with the 
highest energy burdens, who live in rural or underserved areas and who receive benefits 
under state or federal low-income assistance programs. The trust must provide education 
regarding program eligibility and assistance with program navigation to individuals who 
may qualify for the program. The trust must provide reports to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy matters regarding the status of the 
program.