Awards of Federal funds to three organizations will help grow the residential energy efficiency contractor workforce across the state
August, ME — Jan. 13, 2026 —The Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today announced $1.2 million in grant awards to three organizations to support energy efficiency workforce training programs across Maine. The competitive grants are awarded through DOER’s Clean Energy Partnership and will help meet growing demand for skilled trades, support building efficiency, and strengthen partnerships among education, industry, and communities.
“We are excited to announce awards to three programs that will expand workforce training opportunities for Maine people in energy efficiency and building systems,” said Dan Burgess, Acting Commissioner of the Maine Department of Energy Resources. “These investments will strengthen career pathways, support local businesses, and ensure Maine has the skilled workforce needed to meet growing demand for energy efficiency services across the state.”
Awarded programs will expand Maine’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) workforce and provide upskilling opportunities for incumbent workers across the state. The programs are expected to serve as many as 1,200 total participants including new and existing professionals in the field while supporting 60 local Maine businesses. Funding for the awards is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Training for Residential Energy Contractors program.
The Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) will provide training and industry certifications for new and incumbent workers through a combination of a virtual statewide Learning Management System, eight statewide webinars, and six in-person hands-on training sessions. Amount: $449,052.
“This grant expands access to clean energy training that supports Maine’s existing workforce and opens new pathways into high-quality careers,” said Jen Szaro, President and CEO of AESP. “It’s a critical investment in the people who will power Maine’s clean energy future.”
In 2024, the portion of Maine households reliant on heating oil fell to 50 percent, the lowest in decades according to federal data. This is down from 62 percent in 2018 and over 70 percent in 2010, continuing a historic downward trend strongly correlated with an increase in the use of high efficiency heat pumps for home heating.
In July 2023, Maine surpassed its goal of installing 100,000 new heat pumps two years early. As reported in the December 2025 Maine Won’t Wait progress report, the number of heat pumps installed in Maine has now surpassed 180,000.
Maine’s clean energy workforce has grown to employ nearly 15,600 people, growing at a rate nearly twice that of the state’s overall workforce and contributing nearly $3 billion to the state’s economy, according to the DOER’s latest analysis. The energy efficiency sector accounts for over 9,000 jobs or nearly 60 percent of Maine’s clean energy workforce.
In 2024, DOER launched the Maine Clean Energy Jobs Network, an online job board that connects jobs seekers with Maine-based clean energy employers and training programs. The website currently lists dozens of open positions, employers, and training opportunities located across the state.
Supported by the Governor’s Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, DOER launched the Clean Energy Partnership to work with state agencies, employers, schools and colleges, and workforce training organizations to expand job opportunities in the clean energy sector.
AESP Media Contact:
Ian Perterer, Director of Communications, AESP
[email protected]
Maine DOER Contact:
Afton Vigue, Maine Department of Energy Resources
[email protected]