The green affordable housing bond, MAHC’s primary legislative initiative in the 124th Maine Legislature, was signed into law by Governor John Baldacci on June 12, 2009. The initiative preserves and creates jobs for Maine workers and transforms Maine’s housing stock, through a strategic combination of new construction, renovation, and housing replacement activities. The bond will help to increase the supply of housing that is affordable, energy-efficient and convenient to jobs and services.
The initiative gained the support of many state legislators on both sides of the aisle, but Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, Senator Phil Bartlett and House Speaker Hannah Pingree deserve special recognition for their leadership and commitment to making it a reality. The members of the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Energy Future, of which Sen. Bartlett was the Senate chair, also deserve thanks for their strong support.
The text of the final bill may be found here: (see part E, which begins on page 40).
Please see the following information about the green affordable housing bond initiative and the issues that drove the need for its passage: