Climate resilience tops the Maine legislature’s agenda this year, with bipartisan support for a bill that would create a new state office and grants for rebuilding homes after disasters.
The bill, proposed by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, draws from some state pots of money. But it also leans heavily on federal funding sources — including climate resilience programs at risk of cuts by congressional Republicans, who have criticized them as wasteful and poorly targeted.
Sponsored by Republican and Democratic leaders of the state House and Senate, LD 1 would establish a $15 million Home Resiliency Program that would offer grants of up to $15,000 for homeowners to harden their properties against future storm impacts, such as basement flooding and roof damage.
The bill also aims to unlock funding from federal disaster and hazard mitigation grants that require states to put up matching funds.
