City of Portland and Gulf of Maine Research Institute Launch Major Climate Partnership to Build Coastal Resilience
$4 Million Wharf Renovation, Waterfront Electrification, and New Resilience Education Project Demonstrate City's Leadership as Climate-Ready Community.
PORTLAND, Maine (December 3, 2025) — The City of Portland and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute celebrated a groundbreaking partnership Wednesday that positions Maine's largest city as a national leader in coastal climate adaptation and working waterfront protection.
Portland Mayor Mark Dion presented GMRI with a City Council resolution formalizing collaboration on climate resilience, blue economy development and infrastructure electrification. The partnership brings together municipal leadership and scientific expertise to address the challenges facing coastal communities in the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine.
"This partnership demonstrates what it means to be a climate-ready community," said Mayor Mark Dion. "By combining the City's planning and policy work with GMRI's scientific expertise, we're creating practical solutions that protect our working waterfront, grow our economy and prepare Portland for the future."
The collaboration has already yielded significant infrastructure investments, including:
Wright's Wharf Renovation: A $4 million project that renovated a deteriorating metal bulkhead, and stabilized the wharf and surrounding land. The project not only restored about 1/10th of a mile of working waterfront to the region, but in the process, added up to four commercial berths to support the region’s blue economy. GMRI also elevated the bulkhead wall over 1.5 feet to make it more resilient to sea level rise and coastal flooding. The project, funded through a $1 million Maine infrastructure bond and $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, preserves working waterfront space while demonstrating how federal, state and local partnerships can advance climate adaptation.
Waterfront Electrification: Ten level-two electric vehicle chargers now operate 24/7 at 350 Commercial St., marking the first publicly available charging station of this size on Portland's waterfront. The facility, funded by an Efficiency Maine grant, federal infrastructure tax credits and GMRI board support, demonstrates coastal electrification in action. GMRI is also piloting a marine charging station on Wright's Wharf for aquaculture vessels in partnership with the Greater Portland Council of Governments, the Island Institute, Aqua SuperPower and Maine Ocean Farms. Portland’s first electric boat charger was installed as part of this collaboration.
Climate Resilience Signage Project: The city has produced new educational signage identifying 21 pieces of resilient infrastructure across four categories: coastal flood resilience, green infrastructure, heat resilience, and social resilience. QR codes on the signs link to an interactive story map. One such sign has been installed at Wright’s Wharf.
"The Gulf of Maine’s coastal communities are on the front lines of climate change," said Glenn Prickett, GMRI president and CEO. "Our partnership with Portland shows how science-based solutions, combined with municipal action and private investment, can create a blueprint for other communities facing similar challenges."
The partnership advances GMRI's new “Building Climate-Ready Communities” strategic initiative by demonstrating practical climate solutions, supporting both environmental and economic resilience, and creating replicable models for other coastal areas.
"This is a science-based and community-driven partnership that leverages GMRI's climate expertise to support Portland's resilience planning," said Dave Reidmiller, GMRI chief impact officer. "These kinds of partnerships help us turn our climate knowledge into climate action.”
The City Council resolution, adopted Nov. 3, commits both organizations to data sharing, collaborative grant applications and joint work on coastal resilience and working waterfront protection.
Troy Moon, Portland's sustainability director, said the partnership represents a new model for municipal climate action. "By working with GMRI, we're able to ground our climate planning in the best available science while moving quickly to implement real infrastructure solutions," Moon said.
Greg Watson, Portland's director of housing and economic development, emphasized the economic benefits. "Protecting our working waterfront and investing in climate-ready infrastructure will provide essential support for our fishing, aquaculture and seafood supply-chain workforce as well as leading around innovation in the Blue Economy" Watson said.
Wednesday's event at GMRI included remarks from city and GMRI leaders, followed by a walking tour of the renovated wharf, charging stations and new resilience signage.
Access our event media kit for additional photo assets.
About the Gulf of Maine Research Institute The Gulf of Maine Research Institute develops and delivers collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges. Located in Portland, ME, the institute is dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.gmri.org.
About the City of Portland Portland is Maine's largest city and economic hub, home to a thriving working waterfront, diverse neighborhoods and a nationally recognized commitment to sustainability and climate action.
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