ABOUT THE PROGRAM
NAVIGATORS
Kaya Williams
Ava Moseley
Kaya is a Community Energy Fellow through the U.S. Department of Energy, leading the Energy Navigator Pilot Program. Kaya previously served as an AmeriCorps fellow through the Maine Resilience Corps program. Kaya holds a Master's in Climate and Environmental Policy from Vermont Law and Graduate School. When not at work, she loves cooking and trying new restaurants, and is an avid knitter, teaching herself how to sew.
Ava is an AmeriCorps fellow serving as an Energy Navigator, helping to connect homeowners with technical and financial assistance for home energy upgrades. Ava holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies from Middlebury College. She is passionate about helping build community resilience in Maine and advancing equitable access to energy resources. In her free time, Ava loves spending time with friends, being active outdoors, and acrylic painting.
ORIGINS
The Towns of Kittery, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, and Ogunquit have shared a
commitment to address climate and energy issues in their communities through Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission's (SMPDC) Regional Sustainability and Resilience Program. Since 2019, the Towns and SMPDC have collaborated on energy and climate initiatives, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories, municipal solar procurement, and energy efficiency outreach programs.
The Towns of Kittery, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport also worked with SMPDC to create local Climate Action Plans with ambitious targets to equitably reduce community GHG emissions. Residential electricity and heating fuel use contribute significantly to community-wide greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 10% to 32% of community-wide GHG emissions in the five-community region.
To meet their climate goals, the Towns plan to help homeowners reduce emissions through energy efficiency and electrification. While statewide programs exist, awareness of them is low, and there is a clear need for direct technical assistance and additional financial assistance for homeowners
The program’s aim is to reduce the barriers to accessing existing state and federal incentives and federal tax credits. This is a three-year program funded by the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.
PARTNERS
FUNDING
This program is made possible by funding from a Department of Energy Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant.