The town of Kennebunk is moving forward with its Climate Action Plan initiatives. At a recent select board meeting, members unanimously accepted a state grant for solar panels and eliminated the use of single-use plastics in municipal spaces.

In December 2024, the town submitted an application to the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy and Innovation for a Community Resilience Partnership Community Action Grant that would fund the installation of rooftop solar panels at the Waterhouse Center in downtown Kennebunk.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $107,000, and the grant will cover $75,000 of the price tag. The remaining $32,000 is anticipated to be funded through a clean energy tax credit.

Board member Lisa Pratt, who serves as the select board liaison for the Climate Action Committee, said increasing municipal solar power use is an indicated strategy in the Climate Action Plan.

“We’re moving forward with the Climate Action Plan,” Pratt said. “It’s very exciting.”

The board also unanimously approved a policy that will eliminate the town’s purchase of single-use plastics. The policy is only for the municipality, and will not affect residents or businesses. The policy takes effect on July 1.

“Hopefully, the town will set an example to show what options are for eliminating single-use plastics,” Pratt said.

Single-use plastics, which include items like spoons, straws, and water bottles, are made from fossil fuels, which produce and emit greenhouse gases. The plastics never fully decompose, instead degrading into microplastics, which are harmful to the environment.

Decreasing the use of single-use plastics in Kennebunk is an important aspect of the Climate Action Plan, Pratt said.

“By adopting this policy, the municipality of Kennebunk is setting an example on the importance of decreasing our reliance on single-use plastics and instead seeking more sustainable alternatives,” she said.

Kennebunk has already taken steps to reduce the use of single-use plastics in town. In 2016, the town eliminated the use of plastic carry-out bags, and in 2017, Kennebunk eliminated the display and release of plastic balloons.

“This is the next step in hopefully setting an example for our community that this is the right thing to do for our environment,” Pratt said.

Board member Kortney Nedeau said she was in support of the policy, but had concerns about the cost of single-use plastic alternatives.

“The concern always comes back to price,” Nedeau said.

Alternative items like paper straws and bamboo cutlery tend to be more expensive, Nedeau said, and could put a strain on the town’s budget.

According to Pratt, the elimination of single-use plastics will not have a major impact on the budget.

Josh Tabor, chair of the Climate Action Committee, said he hopes the policy approval is the first step toward eliminating plastic waste and debris throughout town.

“It breaks my heart to see plastic on the ground in Kennebunk,” Tabor said.