Sustain Mid Maine Coalition

Sustain Mid Maine Coalition is a grassroots initiative created to conserve our resources, sustain a healthy environment, and promote economic prosperity for the Mid-Maine region. Our volunteers are divided into five teams: Education; Energy; Grow and Support Local Foods; Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; and Transportation.

 Strategic Vision 2013 (Signed Version Here)

Welcome to central Maine’s sustainable community in 2020. We define sustainability as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.

We, the people of the Kennebec, recognize that our survival depends on a healthy and safe environment. We are part of an interdependent world of natural resources, human communities, and economic systems. Our culture supports sustainability in everything, such as use of local food, energy, and transportation as well as preservation of our natural resources.

We are a strong regional community with shared interests working together with all levels of government. We collaborate in making wise energy and environmental choices. We make public and private decisions in terms of their environmental, social, and economic impacts, including quality of life and employment opportunities. We have increased the prosperity of the region. We have full employment at a living wage through green services and green manufacturing.

People of all ages learn about sustainability throughout our communities: at home, in schools, in the workplace. The youth in our communities grow up safe and healthy, and are engaged in the process of achieving sustainability.

We invest in the best available strategies and infrastructures for energy generation, distribution and use. Where we use energy, we give priority to local, renewable resources. Through practices of energy conservation, generation and efficiency, we have reduced our carbon footprint and our use of fossil fuels by more than 50% since 2009. For our world to be sustainable, we must approach the ultimate goal of eliminating the use of fossil fuels.

There is an abundance of food available throughout our communities. Eighty percent of that food is grown on local farms and gardens. We have revitalized area farms and reconnected our rural and urban economies.

Recognizing that the open-ended generation of “waste” is not sustainable, we have learned to rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle, with the goal of eliminating waste completely - every output becomes an input. We have eliminated most landfilling.

Our transportation infrastructure is geared toward public transportation and bicycle and pedestrian use. We have transformed the way we move goods and people: fewer than 50% of journeys are made in fossil-fueled vehicles.

We use our natural resources, such as wind, water, wood and sun, to provide for the needs of everyone in our communities and beyond, while at the same time preserving the integrity of resources for the future. Because we are a resilient, proactive and inspiring organization, other communities look to us for leadership and advice.

The Mission of the Coalition is to promote energy conservation and alternative energy use for area residents, businesses, and municipal operations, therebyreducing energy costs for taxpayers while also cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The Objectives of the Coalition are to:

• Reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in local facilities, both residential and commercial.
• Recommend appropriate alternative energy technologies to municipally-elected officials and staff for implementation.
• Make education and resources available to the public to assist the community in reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Review solid waste/recycling/composting practices.
• Explore and engage opportunities for regional solutions and cooperation.

To learn more about the Sustain Mid Maine Coalition, check out our About Us page.

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 Check out these articles written in the Morning Sentinel: 1/26/2011 and 1/29/2011 and this one about Linda Woods

Volunteer Hours Donated!!!

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