Municipal Heat Pumps
Maine is the most fuel oil-dependent state in the country. That dependence comes at a major cost to communities, and Chebeague is a prime example. Because of the necessity of barging, the price of heating fuel oil on the island jumps more than 20% above mainland averages. Equally important is the environmental cost of burning fuel oil for heating, responsible for 55% of the Town's greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.​​
Electrification offers a one-stop solution to these problems. Heat pumps are the most efficient heating and cooling technology on the market, using electricity to move heat rather than create it. Electricity is cheaper than fuel oil across the state, but the difference is especially poignant on Chebeague, where we pay the exact same electricity rate as mainland customers. Plus, electricity is environmentally cleaner than fuel oil. 55% of the electricity generated in Maine came from renewable energy sources in 2024, and there are plans in place to grow that percentage to 80% by 2030.
CCAT has supported the Town in coordinating heat pump projects and in accessing supplemental state funding available for municipal electrification. The team put together applications for more than $90,000 in state funding for a full transition to heat pumps at the Chebeague Island School, the Town Office, and the Public Safety Building. If awarded, these projects will substantially reduce the Town's greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills while also improving comfort and indoor air quality for all who use these community spaces.