Building a future powered by local energy and driven by community
That’s why Island Institute is working to build a future powered by local energy and driven by community. We help move island and coastal communities from energy planning to action by supporting energy education, providing access to deep technical assistance, fostering strategic partnerships, and identifying funding opportunities. Together, we are advancing innovative energy solutions that strengthen resilience, improve reliability, expand local ownership, and improve energy affordability.
Resilient Energy in Action
blog: Microgrids 101
Microgrids are uniquely suited for addressing the challenges of Maine’s energy landscape—particularly for island, coastal, and other end-of-the-line communities that regularly experience unreliable energy. Learn more about how independent energy systems can support rural Maine communities
Island Institute Welcomes New Communities to ETIPP
As 38 communities across the United States join the fifth cohort of the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP), Island Institute will be there to guide and support communities in the Northeast as they spend upcoming months and years pursuing energy planning and analysis projects.
Photo Story: A Day in Community on Islesboro
On a sunny day in October 2025, Island Institute’s Resilient Energy Team and representatives from communities across the northeast facing similar energy challenges boarded the ferry to Islesboro. The goal? To share essential knowledge and build lasting connections.
The Working Waterfront Newspaper: From energy planning to project implementation
Kate Klibansky helps connect communities, leading the work of Island Institute’s Resilient Energy team on a federally funded program that supports improving energy reliability, resilience, and affordability for rural, remote, and island communities across the Northeast.
Supporting Resilient Energy Initiatives
Energy planning and TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Many communities have energy needs but lack the capacity, expertise, or resources needed to move projects forward. Island Institute connects communities and businesses with technical assistance, planning support, and expert guidance to help them identify priorities, evaluate options, and develop practical solutions that strengthen energy resilience and reliability. This work includes our role as the Northeast regional partner of the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP), a U.S. Department of Energy program that helps coastal, remote, and island communities across the United States develop more affordable, reliable, and secure energy systems through strategic energy planning and deep-dive technical assistance.
CLEAN ENERGY FUNDING
Access to funding is often one of the biggest barriers to implementing energy projects. Island Institute helps coastal and island communities identify funding opportunities and provides direct financial support with Community Clean Energy Grants to advance energy efficiency, weatherization, and clean energy technologies that reduce energy costs and improve long-term resilience.
GRID RESILIENCE & ENERGY INNOVATION
As communities face growing energy demands and more frequent disruptions, innovative infrastructure solutions are becoming increasingly important. Island Institute works with communities and utility partners to accelerate the deployment of resilient energy infrastructure and demonstrate new approaches that strengthen local energy systems. Current efforts include developing a Grid Resilience and Energy Innovation Toolkit to help communities and utilities advance innovative energy solutions along Maine’s coast.
COMMUNITY MICROGRIDS
Community-scale microgrids can provide critical backup power and improve resilience during outages and emergencies. As a regional partner for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP), Island Institute helps communities explore, plan, and advance microgrid projects that increase energy security and support essential community services when they are needed most.
To learn the details about each of these programs, visit our Resilient Energy Resources page.
Electric Boats in Maine
Learn about our work to get electric boats on the water!
Learn moreElectrifying Maine's Working Waterfront
Explore our study of shoreside charging infrastructure!
Learn moreLet's stand behind Maine's coastal communities
Join us in our work supporting resilient energy efforts for Maine’s island and coastal communities who depend on it.
