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Committee backs drafting of bill to create a low-cost Home Energy Navigator resource hub pilot

Maine Legislature Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology ยท February 12, 2026

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Summary

DOER and GOPIF presented a three-option pilot design for energy coaches and a Home Energy Navigator under LD 1967; the committee favored a low-cost resource-hub pilot (proposal 3) and voted to pursue a committee bill to establish the pilot, asking DOER to draft language and provide a fiscal note (committee vote 6-5).

Staff from the Maine Department of Energy Resources and the Governors Office of Policy Innovation for the Future presented the Legislatures report responding to LD 1967 that designed options for a Home Energy Navigator and community-based energy coaching pilot.

Molly Siegel (GOPIF) summarized the pilots purpose: energy coaches would help residents access rebates, grants and programs (Efficiency Maine, Maine Housing, weatherization assistance, LIHEAP), perform low-barrier outreach and provide technical-assistance navigation without acting as contractors. "Energy coaches are people who are knowledgeable, and they're trusted," Siegel said.

DOER and GOPIF presented three models: (1) an energy coach grant pilot (funding coordinators and coaches across tracks), (2) a Climate Corps-style pilot placing paid fellows in small/rural communities managed by Volunteer Maine, and (3) a resource hub pilot offering standardized technical assistance materials, liability templates, training content and outreach support. The report estimated approximately $715,000 for a two-year grant-model pilot but described proposal 3 as a low-cost "no regrets" approach that could begin with $50,000'100,000 in implementation funding.

Committee members pressed staff about contractor engagement, workforce constraints, and whether the pilot required legislation. DOER said existing programs and CRP funding support some coaching activity and that statutory authority was not required to start coordination, but that additional funding and a fiscal note would help launch a formal pilot. Representative Chris Kessler asked for draft legislation; the committee held a show-of-hands vote and recorded support to pursue a committee bill (chair recorded a 6-5 count). The committee asked DOER and legislative staff to draft bill language for a resource-hub pilot and to provide a fiscal note for consideration.

What happens next: DOER/GOPIF will draft bill language and a fiscal note for the resource-hub pilot (proposal 3) and continue stakeholder engagement and coordination with Efficiency Maine, Maine Housing and MOCA.