Local Initiatives Lead the Way for Mitigating Climate Change Impacts and Reducing Emissions–with Neighbors Helping Neighbors to Build Healthier Communities
After tomorrow’s vote the driving question will be how we come together—if we’ll choose to come together, bound by our common love of place—no matter the outcome.
We sure hope so, since there are plenty of local climate initiatives that need Camden and Rockport attention and volunteers. We’ve listed many of them here. We hope to see a summer and fall full of a bustling local climate corp making a difference, working toward a thriving Midcoast despite the wider context of environmental rollbacks and destruction.
Harbor Resilience Planning for Camden and Rockport
(And a little history: Working with the state, in 2018 Camden underwent a previous research project about the Public Landing, resulting in The Wood Report, which also recommended ways to rebuild for resilience. While damages and repair to the public landing in 2023 forced a quick rebuild, there is much left to do and talk about. If you are looking for a document that shows the whole of Penobscot Bay, with the sea level rise implications for Vinalhaven, Spruce Head, Stonington, Belfast, Castine, etc., you can find the larger 2019 on Penobscot Bay here.)
The three reports send a strong message regarding the need to take action. We’re hoping citizens will continue the discussions about these needs—creating the path toward investing in our harbor’s future. We’re looking forward to that work. One idea might be to convene a meeting of residents to talk about the reports’ recommendations. Send us a note if you’ve got responses or ideas about Camden’s next steps.
And speaking of action, Rockport is currently undertaking its own harbor resiliency planning. You can follow that process at the Harbor Strategic Planning section of their website. You’ll find a timeline and several documents they’ve created in the process.
Exciting to see both towns working on harbor resilience plans.
Municipal Solar Update
Camden is in the process of converting its solar lease at Sagamore Farms into a purchase. That’s good news for residents, taking approximately $30,000 yearly off of our municipal electrical bills. We’re excited to know that the town is also currently drafting an RFP for expansion of the solar array. That’s good long-term news for residents, who will see further reductions in municipal electric bills as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
Free Energy Coaching
For the next two years Camden and Rockport residents will have the benefit of access to free energy coaching. This initiative, based on successful programs in York (see here) and Brooklin, Maine, seeks to help homeowners and renters feel more comfortable in their homes, save money, and reduce our region’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The project is a collaboration between the Rockport Conservation Commission, CamdenCAN, and the towns of Rockport and Camden, funded by a two-year Community Action Grant awarded by the Maine Community Resilience Partnership.
We’re in the planning stages now, mapping out responsibilities and strategies. If you’d like to be involved, as a coach or to receive a free energy consultation, email us at camdencan2025@gmail.com. We hope to begin training coaches in early fall, with coach visits starting in late fall.
Upcoming Climate Events
June 10, Tuesday, Town Meeting Day. Visit your town’s website to check out the ballot to prepare.
June 10, Tuesday, 4 – 5, pm Camden Public Library, Climate Conversations. This is informal, designed to help us get to know one another and find ways to talk about the climate crisis. There will be resources for guided discussion, including podcasts, articles, and books, as decided by each group. The goal is to help one another explore living in this remarkable period. Making connections about climate is a powerful way to build resilience. Free and open to all! See more here.
June 11, Wednesday, 5 pm, Searsport. Zero Energy Homes Demonstration House —small insider tour for building/energy professionals and Happy Hour folks. Contact Amanda (amanda@beechhillresearch.com or 802-448-2992) for carpooling from Rockland and Camden. Leave Rockland by 4 pm and Camden by 4:10 pm to arrive by 5 pm (considering Route 1 traffic). And subscribe to the Midcoast Climate Happy Hour substack here.
June 26, Thursday, 6 – 8 pm, First Congregational Church, Camden. Camden/Rockport Community Climate Potluck. Come celebrate summer, meet neighbors, and share a meal. They’ll be a program of short talks by representatives from local organizations—Creation Care, CamdenCAN, Camden Garden Club, and FCC’s Anti-Poverty Group—aimed at fostering awareness and partnering on meaningful actions to mitigate climate change impacts. Bring a dish to share if so inclined. We look forward to seeing you.
July 9, Wednesday, 5 – 7 pm, Midcoast Villager Cafe, Camden. ClimateTech + Climate/Energy Jobs Happy Hour. Come learn and share how climate-friendly and green energy businesses and organizations are growing in Maine. Also hear about programs and incentives from StartUp Maine the the Roux Institute ClimateTech Incubator. Organizers would appreciate people to RSVP, though they won’t be checking names at the door.
July 17, Thursday, Camden Middle School and Local Home Farms, Edible Gardens and Bountiful Tables. For more information, see camdengardenclub.org.
Concluding Thoughts
The good news is that we have the science that explains the warming planet, and the data that documents it, as well as the practical solutions we need to reverse the warming of our planet: clean energy, battery technology, etc.
So the problem isn’t a shortage of practical solutions. It isn’t a science or technical problem. Rather, it’s a question of altering the dominant cultural and social norms — of overcoming human selfishness, greed, and apathy.
We don’t have to fall for the human trap of inaction or defeat, even as those around us act in ways that worsen the path of global warming. We have the solutions locally to do our part. We can increase municipal solar. We can reduce energy usage. We can come together in community to share knowledge, promote science, and push for green energy solutions.
Let’s take our lead from these days of sunlight—sharing our own warmth and love of place to build community and resilience, neighbor by neighbor.
A cultural problem requires a cultural shift, which requires most of us moving in the right direction while willing to change the rules by which we live… social change is often personal change writ large. It’s the bottom-up action created by activism. It’s not nearly enough on its own, but when paired with top-down action it can move cultural mountains…Find what you’re good at, what you love to do, and that helps shift the culture. Better yet, I’ll repeat the wisdom of environmental philosopher Kathleen Dean Moore when she was asked, What can one person do?Her answer: “Don’t be one person.”—Jason Anthony, The Elephant in Every Room