Editor's note: The following is Wiscasset Economic Development Director Aaron Chrostowsky's Dec. 10 memo in connection with an item that appears on selectmen's 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16 agenda, to accept funds and technical help toward writing a strategic energy plan:

Background: The Town of Wiscasset, in partnership with the community organization RePower Wiscasset, has been selected to receive strategic energy planning (SEP) assistance in the fifth cohort of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project. ETIPP is a collaboration among regional partners (Island Institute), rural towns, and U.S. national laboratories to address local energy needs while improving reliability and enhancing energy security.

Over the next six to eight months, ETIPP will support community engagement and the development of near-, mid-, and long-term energy objectives and actions, as well as the underpinning analysis needed to discern your priorities.

As a local community leader, stakeholder, and supporter of our application (see application), we invite you to participate in this process over the next few months.

Why ETIPP?

So why should we accept these funds and technical assistance?

I hope that ETIPP will provide the Town with high-level technical assistance from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to build on the good work and success of the following programs:

• Wastewater (sewer) Treatment Plant –

Sea-level rise study

• Facilities Needs Assessment of Municipal Building and Community Center

Facility assessment report

• Climate Action Team –

A community-supported Municipal Climate Change Resolution that prioritizes several strategic working areas, with many items outlined in the possible project goals.

• Maine Community Energy Redevelopment Program (MECERP) –

A community-supported marketing analysis and implementation strategy for the redevelopment of Mason Station/Birch Point and Old Ferry Road/ Maine Yankee site.

• Waterfront Resilience Project –

Waterfront Infrastructure Vulnerability Assessment Study

• Energy Efficiency Planning for Rural Communities Program –

Municipal Energy Audits of the Municipal Building and Community Center

ETIPP aims to provide direction to the community to address energy concerns that affect all, specifically energy affordability, resilience, and reliability, while maximizing the utilization of energy assets within the community. All these items are important drivers in economic development.

Interesting factoid:

According to Central Maine Power Company data, from January 2020 to present, Wiscasset had 396 power outages, affecting between 1 and 3,300 customers, outages lasting between 10 minutes and 102 hours, weather during the outage ranging from clear to major storm, and caused by everything from defective equipment to a tree on a conductor.

Clearly, we have work to do on energy reliability. See goals.

Project Team

• Aaron Chrostowsky, Economic Development Director, Town of Wiscasset

• Peter Arnold, Coordinator, RePower Wiscasset

• Alissa Eason, Selectboard representative

• Amber Blum, Community Development Officer, Island Institute

• Brenna Cohen, Community Development Officer, Island Institute

Possible Stakeholders

• Fred Quivey, Chair, Economic Development Committee representative

• Dr. Cassaundra Rose, Chair, Climate Action Team

• Laura Graziano, LCRPC, Community Resilience Planner

• Emily Huber, LCEMA, Emergency Management Director

• Gabrielle DiPerri, Executive Manager, Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce

• Andrew Gross, Board Chair, Maine Food and Beverage Education Center

• Ed Polewarczyk, former Maine State Representative and rocket scientist

• Nancy Kennedy, President, Chewonki Foundation

• Dr. Kim Andersson, Superintendent, School Department

• Patrick Voit, Key Account Manager - Midcoast, Central Maine Power

• David Stapp, Chief Executive Officer, Peregrine Turbine Technologies

• Ryan Gahagan, President, Mason Station Redevelopment Co.

Project Timeline

• Selectboard Meeting authorization to submit the Town’s application – July 1, 2025

Alicia Eason moved to approve the Town’s application to the US DOE Energy Technology Innovation and Partnership Program. Vote 5-0-0.

• Stakeholder Meeting – July 15, 2025

Invited several community leaders and organizations to learn more about the ETIPP program. Many of them wrote letters of support for the town’s application.

• Application Due – July 27, 2025

• Community Selection Notification – October 20, 2025

Selectboard Meeting acceptance of technical assistance and funds – December 16, 2025

• Onboarding Meeting – December 15, 2025

• Community Kick-off – Estimated March 2026

• In-Person Workshop/ Reporting – Estimated August 2026

• Final Strategic Energy Plan/ Closeout – October 31, 2026

Time-Commitment

Proposed time commitments are like the Town’s involvement in the Maine Community Energy Redevelopment Program (MECERP) and the Waterfront Resilience Project.

• Regular weekly/bi-weekly meetings with the Project Team throughout the duration of the project.

• Regular monthly/ quarterly meetings with stakeholders throughout the duration of the project.

The Project Team will coordinate with community stakeholders and town staff to collect data for the NREL staff.

Public Engagement

The Island Institute (Regional Partner) will assist the Town with public engagement when developing near-, mid-, and long-term energy objectives and actions—possible public engagement tools – community workshops, and a public survey.

Technical Assistance

U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) staff work with town staff to research and analyze data to underpin the analysis needed to discern your priorities.

Possible Use of ETIPP Program Funds

As part of the acceptance of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Program, we are the recipients of $20,000. Potential uses:

Reimburse the town for compensation for my time on this project.

Hire an intern to assist the Planning and Development Department with the Implementation of some of the items outlined in the Strategic Energy Plan and Municipal Climate Change Resolution.

Possible Project Goals for Wiscasset’s Strategic Energy Plan (ETIPP Program)

(language below was taken from the Town’s application)

The Town of Wiscasset aims to develop a comprehensive Strategic Energy Plan that ensures energy resilience, sustainability, and the well-being of its community. Supported through the ETIPP program, the plan will serve as a roadmap to modernize infrastructure, enhance energy reliability and resilience, and harness innovative technologies.

Key outcomes for our strategic energy plan may include:

• System Strengthening: Enhancing energy resilience by identifying vulnerabilities and investing in improvements to the local electrical distribution system in collaboration with our local utility, Central Maine Power (CMP).

Consider working with CMP to expand the existing Woolwich-Wiscasset Resiliency Project and upgrade lines with covered tree wire. Installation of smart devices. Removal of roadside structures from secondary roads and rerouting them to Route 1. Restoration after structure removals. Enhanced tree trimming techniques for reliability.

Infrastructure Modernization: Prioritization of infrastructure improvements, which could include energy infrastructure for a new wastewater treatment facility and a new public safety facility. Consider using smart-growth principles to assist town staff in prioritizing infrastructure improvements that incorporate clean energy and green principles, which can save the town money on energy costs and potentially generate revenue through improved infrastructure.

• Community Shelter: Plan development and community support for an energy resilience hub, potentially at the Wiscasset Community Center, capable of serving residents during power outages and severe weather events.

Consider upgrading back-up power at the Community Center and town facilities. Consider creating a microgrid between the Community Center and Wiscasset Middle High School that includes generating renewable power and stores power on sight until needed.

• Weatherization Programs: Improving energy efficiency in homes and businesses through building envelope weatherization and retrofitting strategies.

Consider creating a local weatherization fund. Consider educating local businesses and residents about state-wide and regional weatherization programs/ resources. Consider adopting Efficiency Maine’s C-Pace Ordinance, which allows Commercial property owners to finance energy efficiency and clean energy improvements to their buildings.

Site Development Guidance: Help with revitalizing and developing the Mason Station/Birch Point and Old Ferry Road/ Maine Yankee sites as part of a broader redevelopment initiative aligned with energy goals.

Consider further implementation of MECERP’s coordinated land-use and phasing strategy, informed by community and market input, which includes an actionable list to help the town advance to future development phases.

Through the ETIPP process, we aim to provide direction to the community to address energy concerns that affect all, specifically energy affordability, resilience, and reliability,

while maximizing the utilization of energy assets within the community.

Proposed Motion: The Selectboard authorizes the Town Manager to sign a subcontract and accept technical assistance and funds from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project on behalf of the Town of Wiscasset to write a Strategic Energy Plan.