Maine Joins Nine Other States Signing Memorandum Towards Phasing Out Heating Homes With Fossil Fuels

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Maine has joined nine other states in signing a new memorandum of understanding that sets a goal for highly efficient heat pumps to make up 65% of residential heating, cooling, and water heating equipment sales by 2030 in the state.

The Memorandum of Understanding, led by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), has been signed by directors of environmental agencies from California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the states have set a shared goal for heat pumps to meet at least 65% of residential-scale heating, air conditioning, and water heating shipments by 2030 and 90% by 2040 across the nine states. The states will also work together to collect market data, track progress, and develop an action plan within a year to support the widespread electrification of residential buildings

According to NESCAUM, buildings are a hidden source of air pollution, which comes from the combustion of fossil fuels in furnaces, boilers, and water heaters. NESCAUM says fossil-fueled heating equipment across the participating states emits over 138,000 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 6,000 tons of fine particulate matter, causing an increased risk of heart attack, asthma events, premature death, and many other adverse health outcomes. Buildings also emit 173 million metric tons of CO2 across participating states.

NESCAUM is the association of air quality agencies in the six New England states, New Jersey, and New York. NESCAUM catalyzes, guides, and supports state initiatives to improve air quality and address climate change. Formed as a nonprofit organization in 1967 to address air pollution from New England power plants, NESCAUM is the oldest regional air quality organization of its kind. Today, NESCAUM addresses a wide spectrum of air quality, climate, and energy issues on behalf of its member states and their collaborating partners and provides a forum for states to work together to address climate and energy challenges on a collective basis, both regionally and nationally