By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — With what appears to be overwhelming scientific evidence to prove that climate change does exist, some people still don’t believe it, one Casco resident said. 

Mary-Vienessa Fernandes was talking about climate change with two women. Both women assured her there was no such thing as climate change, she said. One lady questioned whether Fernandes really believed in it. Meanwhile, the other woman said that so-called climate change was a part of nature and it was what had killed off the dinosaurs, Fernandes shared. 

Scott Vlaun, the director of Center for an Ecology-Based Economy, has been hearing that sentiment for 20 years. However, more people are starting to concur that there is a connection between human-based emissions and trapped greenhouse gases and the shifting weather patterns.

Climate Resiliency Grants do exist. There is no arguing about that.

In fact, towns can receive between $5,000 and $50,000 per request, according to Vlaun. More than 70 grants have been awarded that did not require any matching funds from those towns.

The grant program is part of Maine Won’t Wait, the four-year climate action plan brought forward by Gov. Janet Mills’ administration. The State of Maine earmarked funding and created the Community Resilience Partnership so that towns can apply for grants after deciding which activities to engage in “to reduce carbon emissions, transition to clean energy, and become more resilient to climate change effects such as to extreme weather, flooding, rising sea levels, public health impacts and more,” the state’s website said.

A list of community actions provides precise activities for which grants can apply, such as leasing electric vehicles for the town or installing EV chargers. 

According to Vlaun, towns are eligible for resiliency grants once the town finishes the enrollment process, which includes holding the public meeting, fills out a self-assessment for the town and passes a municipal resolution on climate change resiliency.

Last Tuesday, about two dozen people, including Casco’s five selectmen and the town manager, joined staff from the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy (CEBE) to learn more about the Resiliency grant program and to provide feedback about what their town needs.

The person doing the presentation, Clair McGlinchey was hired six to eight months ago as the Climate Resiliency Program Manager at CEBE.

In the Town of Casco, residents demonstrated that one priority is creating safe travel lanes for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially along the Route 121 corridor between the Pike’s Corner and Casco Village, according to Vlaun.

“I think the big takeaway is they [Casco residents] were ahead of the game because of going through the comp plan process, and Casco has a pretty active conservation committee,” Vlaun said. “They are focused on the health of their lakes. They understand that the health of a lake is tied to the tax base, the economy. Everyone is eager to protect that watershed.”

Vlaun attended the public-input meeting in Casco on Jan. 24. Also, this week, he was present at another gathering with residents in Lovell.

Last year, CEBE helped five towns get grants approved. Those were Norway, Otisfield, Woodstock, Bethel, and Paris. Currently, CEBE is assisting five towns: Casco, Sumner, Lovell, Hartford and Oxford.

The item that topped Casco’s list of needs and wants is safe places for pedestrians to walk and for people to ride bicycles, Vlaun said.

“The things that people were leaning toward were resource habitat inventory and complete streets. Complete streets is looking at designing streets to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians as well as [improving] transit,” he Vlaun said.

“Public transit was a big topic in Lovell for senior citizens and for people who are too young to drive. We had a really good meeting up there” on Monday night, he said.

“Casco — they are in the middle of their comp plan so that was already on their minds: Re-doing the zoning to make a two villages centers with a 1-1/2 mile long road between the two; Having the zones connected by pedestrian friendly area, maybe even a bike lane that is separate,” Vlaun said.

The other priority from the list of community actions was  creating an inventory of natural habitats and how climate change can impact or stress those environments.

“Those were pretty much the hands-down winners,” Vlaun said.

Enrollment is required before the town can apply for grants.

“Casco is almost done. The next step is to finish our enrollment process. The select board will pass a municipial resolution. The municipal resolution is 

a template that we use from state. There are three required clauses. There are a handful of optional clauses to make it more individualized to the town. The people in Casco have input to which additional, optional clauses would be included,” Vlaun said. “So, we have resolution signed by select board and sent to the state with the enrollment package.”

Basically, the CEBE will assist with enrolling the town in the program, which would allow the Casco to receive a grant every six months. Those grants amount range from $5,000 to $50,000 per request. Also, municipalities can work on joint project together and receive up to $125,000, Vlaun said.

“Once enrolled, Casco can get a grant every 6 months. It is a way to get the ball moving on some climate resiliency,” he said. “We enroll them in the program. We help them write the first grants. After that, the town decides how to proceed. They can contract us to help them with subsequent grants. Some towns have done grant-writing on their own.”