Maines energy efficiency agency is bullish on electric heat pump installation [Video]

FREEPORT — Maine’s quasi-state agency that promotes energy efficiency says the state is on track to reach its goals in electrifying buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But a business owner at Efficiency Maine Trust’s annual event Thursday questioned a shift in a rebate program to incentivize electric pumps that heat an entire house, rather than a few rooms.

“We’ve been on a pretty good streak lately,” Executive Director Michael Stoddard told heating and cooling business owners and employees.

Heat pumps are “becoming a bigger and bigger part of the programs that we are operating at Efficiency Maine and a bigger and bigger part of what policymakers want to prioritize,” he said.

In July 2023, Maine surpassed its goal of installing 100,000 new heat pumps two years early. Gov. Janet Mills set a new target of installing another 175,000 heat pumps in Maine by 2027. Maine will receivebetween $45 million and $72 million from Washington to install heat pumps for home …