On April 17, 2013, officials announced a $3 million railroad renovation that will connect business parks in Poland and Auburn to Auburn's intermodal transportation hub. According to the Sun Journal, the funding for the project comes from a state bond that was issued several years ago. The extension will restore 6,600 feet of the old Rangeley Branch line, build a 400-foot spur and provide direct rail access to approximatly 400 acres of land in Auburn and Poland. Additionally, 1,500 feet of siding will be built allowing trains to more easily pull over and let another pass, decreasing congestion. The restoration and additions to the railroad will create more room for businesses to tie in and connect to rail in Auburn and Poland. The construction is projected to be finished by this coming fall.
Read more at Mainebiz and the Sun Journal.
Mt. Abram Ski Area in Greenwood, Maine is the second ski area in the USA to install charging stations for electric and hybrid/electric vehicles. The two 220-volt charging centers are located close to the main lodge, rewarding guests who arrive in electric and hybrid cars.
Kenneth Fletcher has resigned his post as the Director of the Governor's Energy Office and Patrick Woodcock of Hampden, who most recently served as Senator Snowe's senior adviser for energy and environment issues will succeed him on January 7, 2013.
On November 26, 2012, Maine Clean Communities, a program of the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), announced it has received a U.S. Department of Energy grant in the amount of $750,000 to share among four other New England Clean Cities Coalitions to advance alternative fuel markets in New England. Maine's Hydrogen Energy Center is a partner in the project. 
Effective November 1, 2012, the GO MAINE commuter services program is being administered by the Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority. The Greater Portland Council of Governments had administered the GO MAINE Commuter Connections program since 2002.
On August 28, 2012, The Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency finalized federal car and light truck fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2017 to 2025. The standards, together with those previously adopted for model years 2012 to 2016, mean an 80 percent increase in fuel economy for the average model year 2025 vehicle from the 2011 CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) requirement of 27.6 miles per gallon.
