Administration Releases More Than $5 Million for Maine Weatherization and Energy Aid Following Request from Senators Collins and Reed

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released $5,056,574 for the State of Maine through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the Weatherization Readiness Fund (WRF), and the State Energy Program (SEP). This action follows a request sent earlier this year by Senators Collins and Jack Reed (D-RI) along with 17 of their Senate colleagues, including Senator Angus King, urging the Administration to release the delayed funding for these programs. At the time, the Department had not issued the annual guidance states needed to apply for the funds, threatening disruptions to these programs. Specifically, the State of Maine will receive $4,094,134 through the WAP, $397,790 through the WRF, and $564,650 through the SEP. Nationwide, DOE released $328 million for the WAP, $30 million for the WRF, and $64 million for the SEP. “These programs enjoy broad bipartisan support and play important roles in lowering energy bills and improving the safety and efficiency of homes in Maine,” said Senator Collins. “Following our bipartisan request, I am pleased that the Administration has released these funds so that state agencies can continue putting them to work in communities throughout our state.” Benefits of the WAP, SEP, and WRF include: Throughout the program’s history, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than 7.4 million low-income households reduce their energy bills, saving each household an average of $372 annually. The program supports 8,500 jobs and provides weatherization services to approximately 32,000 homes nationwide each year. The State Energy Program combines the scientific and economic expertise of the Department of Energy with locally led planning to improve the energy efficiency of hospitals and schools, support energy projects, and encourage private-sector innovation. An Oak Ridge National Laboratory study found that every federal dollar invested in the SEP leverages more than $10 for energy-related economic development and produces more than $7 in energy savings. The Weatherization Readiness Fund supports structural and health and safety repairs that must be completed before otherwise income-eligible homes can receive weatherization services. A 2025 national study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy found that weatherization services were initially deferred for nearly one in five income-eligible households because their homes needed repairs. Earlier this year, Senators Collins and Reed were presented with the John D. Dingell Award by the Edison Electric Institute and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for their steadfast support of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other federal efforts to lower energy costs for Americans. ###