The Biddeford City Council has adopted the City of Biddeford’s first Climate Action Plan, establishing a roadmap for lowering carbon emissions in the coming years and adapting to climate-related events as they occur.

The Climate Action Plan is the culmination of a three-year effort led by the Biddeford Climate Task Force and informed by resident feedback each step of the way. The preparation of the plan took place in collaboration with Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) and a cohort of regional communities.

In October 2022, the City Council adopted targets of a 62.6% absolute emissions reduction in Biddeford by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The Climate Action Plan outlines how Biddeford can reach these targets with 48 actions to be taken in five categories: Buildings and Energy; Transportation and Infrastructure; Land Use and Natural Environment; Health, Safety and Wellbeing; and Leadership and Support.

“The strategies outlined in the Climate Action Plan will help us reduce energy use, protect the vulnerable areas of our city, manage risk, strategically budget for potential climate induced events, and educate Biddeford residents about the many ways to participate in reaching our goals,” said Mayor Alan Casavant. “Together, we can make Biddeford become a stronger, more resilient community."

The actions listed in the plan were developed based on a review of Biddeford’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory and Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, regional best practices, and input from the public through workshops, focus groups, surveys, online engagement efforts, and more.

"As someone who is passionate about finding solutions that benefit both the economy and the environment, I worked hard to help develop this plan as a founding member of the Biddeford Climate Task Force and am very pleased to see it pass,” said Ward 3 Councilor and Biddeford Mayor-Elect Marty Grohman. “I am proud of Biddeford for taking a leadership role. As Mayor, I will support the implementation of the actions outlined in the plan to safeguard the well-being of generations to come."

For more information about the Climate Action Plan, visit https://www.biddefordmaine.org/climatetaskforce .