Avangrid Foundation Celebrates Opening of New Eastern Trail Segment, Connecting Communities Across Southern Maine

The Foundation and Central Maine Power’s support helps complete critical trail connection, expanding access to outdoor recreation and active transportation

PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading energy company Avangrid Inc., a member of the Iberdrola Group, joined Central Maine Power, the Eastern Trail Alliance, community leaders, project partners, and Maine residents on August 6th to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of a new 1.6-mile segment of the Eastern Trail. This milestone project closes a longstanding gap in the trail system and creates a continuous off-road connection from South Portland’s Bug Light to downtown Saco.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of the "Close the Gap" project, which expands public access to safe outdoor recreation, active transportation, and the natural beauty of southern Maine. The Avangrid Foundation supported the project through a grant that helped advance the vision of creating a more connected and accessible trail network for Maine residents and visitors.

"At Avangrid, we believe strong communities are built through investments that create lasting value for the people we serve. The completion of this new Eastern Trail segment is a great example of how partnerships can expand access to outdoor recreation, improve connectivity, and enhance quality of life across southern Maine,” said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “By supporting this project, the Avangrid Foundation and Central Maine Power are helping create a lasting community asset that will benefit residents and attract visitors for years to come.”

"Trails do more than connect destinations—they connect people. This new segment of the Eastern Trail creates a seamless link between communities while expanding access to outdoor recreation for families, cyclists, runners, and visitors alike,” said Pablo Colón, Director of Corporate Citizenship and Executive Director of the Avangrid Foundation. “We're proud to partner with the Eastern Trail Alliance on a project that will help more people experience the beauty of Maine for years to come.”

Spanning 1.6 miles, the construction of this new trail closes a gap in the Eastern Trail and now provides 16 continuous off-road miles for public enjoyment. The new segment required the construction of two new bridges, one over the Nonesuch River crossing and a second elevated over the railroad tracks. The trail is officially open for public use following the ribbon cutting.

“This is an exciting culmination of almost two decades of hard work,” said Eliza Alexander, Interim Executive Director of the Eastern Trail Alliance. “The new trail segment creates a beautiful off-road corridor that is safe and accessible for runners, walkers, and cyclists alike. We are deeply grateful for the generosity and collaboration of the many people who helped realize this vision.”

About Avangrid Foundation: The Avangrid Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that funds philanthropic investments that primarily impact communities where Avangrid, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate. Since 2001, the Avangrid Foundation and its predecessors have invested more than $45 million in partnerships that focus on building sustainable, vital and healthy communities; preserving cultural and artistic heritage; advancing education; and improving people’s lives. The Avangrid Foundation is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the United States. For more information, please visit https://www.avangrid.com/avangrid-foundation.

About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Oregon, including operations in 25 states with approximately $50 billion in assets. Avangrid owns and operates seven electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. It also owns and operates nearly 100 energy generation facilities across the United States producing more than 11 GW of power for over 3 million customers. Avangrid employs approximately 8,500 people and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2026 for the eighth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit http://www.avangrid.com