Sustainability

Energy

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, providing a baseline of Rockland’s community-wide emissions
• Power purchase agreement with a solar farm, generating annual cost savings
• LED lighting in municipal buildings, streetlights and traffic signals across Rockland
• Energy efficiency improvements at the Flanagan Community Center, Rockland Public Library, and Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Recharge Rockland, an outreach program of the Economic and Community Development Department that’s focused on sharing opportunities for energy efficiency and electrification

Resilience

• Sea level rise mapping for city properties in Harbor Management Plan
• Middle Pier Vulnerabilities Assessment, via Maine Coastal Program
• Stormwater Master Plan and associated stormwater improvements
• Rockland’s Downtown Waterfront Project, redesigning Rockland’s downtown waterfront for a resilient future

Transportation

• Public electric vehicle charging stations at Custom House Parking Lot and Rockland Public Library
• Electric vehicle lease for City staff use
• E-bike for three-season use on patrols by Rockland Police
• In-progress Bike Route Network Development Plan, identifying low-cost improvements to help connect people on bikes to where they want to go
• Annual Bike to Work Day, celebrating biking for transportation

Natural Resources

• No synthetic pesticides or herbicides used on City Property since 2013
• Tree City designation by Arbor Day Foundation since 2019
• Two community gardens located on City property
• Native, pollinator-friendly plantings across City
• Fruit trees at Wastewater Treatment Plant, with an additional 40 fruit and nut trees to be planted across Rockland by the Rockland Tree Board
• 1,600 acres of Rockland Bog and surrounding area held in conservation, jointly with the Oyster River Bog Association, Southern Maine Wetlands Conservancy, and Georges River Land Trust

Waste Management

• Cap and closure of Rockland’s landfill by 2024
• Waste management services through Ecomaine, a waste-to-energy facility
• Single-sort recycling
• Annual Rockland Harborside Cleanup in celebration of Earth Day, a volunteer-driven event to collect litter and marine debris for a cleaner Rockland Harbor and waterfront

Recharge Rockland

Recharge Rockland is making it easier to find information on opportunities for electrification and energy efficiency.

Downtown Waterfront Project

Rockland’s Downtown Waterfront Project is planning a climate-ready future for 2 multi-use piers, nearly 7 acres of park, and more than 1,000 feet of shoreline in the heart of Rockland.

Rockland Bikes!

Rockland Bikes! is the City’s information hub for bike infrastructure planning and bike-related community events.