Maine Clean Communities

The Maine Clean Communities works with vehicle fleets, fuel providers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify community-driven choices that save energy and promote the use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in transportation.

Contact Information

Greater Portland Council of Governments
970 Baxter Blvd, Ste 201
Portland, ME 04103

General Stats

  • Designated: September 04, 1997
  • Population: 1,366,949 (based on 2022 Census estimate)
  • Area: 32,477 sq. mi.
  • Local/Regional Service Area: Entire state of Maine including tribal lands

Alternative Fueling Stations

Including public and private stations

  • Biodiesel (B20 and above): 1
  • Electric (charging outlets): 1,347
  • Ethanol (E85): 0
  • Hydrogen: 0
  • Natural Gas: 0
  • Propane: 15

Energy Use Impact*

Annual Energy Impact
1,815,370 gasoline gallon equivalents
Created with Highcharts 9.3.3DownloadAnnual Petroleum SavingsAlternative Fuel VehiclesFuel Economy ImprovementsFuel Economy Improve…Idle ReductionsOff Road VehiclesElectric & Plug-In VehiclesElectric & Plug-In Vehicl…Hybrid VehiclesVehicle Miles Traveled ReductionsVehicle Miles Traveled Re…

Annual Energy Impact by Alternative Fuel Vehicle Project Type
1,165,543 gasoline gallon equivalents
Created with Highcharts 9.3.3DownloadAnnual Petroleum Savings by Alternative Fuel Vehicle Project TypeBiodieselNatural Gas (CNG)Electric & Plug-In VehiclesElectric & Plug-In Vehicl…Hybrid VehiclesLiquefied Natural GasPropane (LPG)Plug-in Hybrid

Emissions Reduced*

Annual Emissions Reduced
9,896 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e)
Created with Highcharts 9.3.3DownloadAnnual Greenhouse Gas Emission AvoidedAlternative Fuel VehiclesFuel Economy ImprovementsFuel Economy Improve…Idle ReductionsOff Road VehiclesElectric & Plug-In VehiclesElectric & Plug-In Vehicl…Hybrid VehiclesVehicle Miles Traveled ReductionsVehicle Miles Traveled Re…

Emissions Reduced by Alternative Fuel Vehicle Project Type
2,177 tons of CO2e
Created with Highcharts 9.3.3DownloadGreenhouse Gas Emission Reduced by Alternative Fuel Vehicle Project TypeBiodieselNatural Gas (CNG)Electric & Plug-In VehiclesElectric & Plug-In Vehicl…Hybrid VehiclesLiquefied Natural GasPlug-in Hybrid
*2022 DOE-Verified Metrics

Sara Mills-Knapp

Sara Mills-Knapp is the Sustainability Program Manager at Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and is working to position the organization as a regional and statewide leader in climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience, while leading the statewide Maine Clean Communities Program, and supporting members with technical assistance on key sustainability issues.

Mills-Knapp has extensive experience providing technical, financial and organizational guidance on urban sustainability programs for cities around the globe through her work with The World Bank, U.S. Agency for International Development, and C40 Cities Network. She has partnered closely with cities to advance best practices in climate action planning, from data collection and analysis, to citizen engagement and governance. Mills-Knapp has a master’s degree in Sustainability Management from Columbia University in New York and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from American University in Washington DC.

Jon Gagne

Jon Gagne is the Sustainability Program Coordinator at GPCOG, where he spearheads transportation decarbonization strategies across Maine. With a focus on collaboration, Jon leads coordination efforts between the sustainability, transportation, planning, and data teams to advance the Maine Clean Communities program. His expertise includes stakeholder communications, educational event coordination, and providing technical support to municipal and private-sector fleets, resulting in tangible reductions in carbon emissions and increased adoption of clean transportation technologies. Jon holds a BS in Environmental and Resource Economics from the University of New Hampshire and is committed to driving impactful change through the Clean Cities network.

Learn about just some of the projects from Maine Clean Communities. Visit the Maine Clean Communities website for more projects and information.

Projects and Case Studies
Videos
Greater Portland Transit District Looks Forward with Natural Gas
Maine's Only Biodiesel Manufacturer Powers Fleets in the Region
Propane Buses Shuttle Visitors in Maine