Maine’s clean energy economy is poised for robust growth, which will advance Maine’s clean energy, climate, and economic development goals and generate stable, high-quality jobs for Maine people.
Major recent policy initiatives such as the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), The Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan (MJRP), and others put a focus on energy efficiency and clean energy expansion. These initiatives span from commercial and industrial decarbonization, residential energy efficiency and weatherization, expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure, and more.
The Clean Energy sector had a total demand of $2.1 billion in 2022, of which 64% ($1.3 billion) was met by in-state sources, and industries related to Clean Infrastructure grew jobs at double digit rates since 2017 (+29% combined). Read the Clean Energy Industry report here (PDF). The Governor’s Energy Office has a set of reports that highlight key issues for the clean energy sector here.
Resources
Maine Governor’s Energy Office
The Governor’s Energy Office develops policies and programs to advance energy solutions for Maine. It serves as Maine’s foremost source for research and data relating to Maine’s energy production, consumption, workforce, and energy-related initiatives.
Clean Energy Partnership (CEP)
The CEP was established to advance the State’s clean energy, climate, economic development, and workforce goals. It is a public-private partnership that will convene leading experts to “sustain attention and promote collaboration to address emerging needs, build new and expand existing supply chains, and support opportunities for Maine in these fast-growing fields.”
Efficiency Maine Trust
The Efficiency Maine Trust (Efficiency Maine) is the independent, quasi-state agency established to plan and implement energy efficiency programs in Maine. The Trust serves all sectors and all regions of the state. Its suite of programs provides consumer information, rebates and loans for the purchase of high-efficiency, clean energy products. The Trust is a quasi-state agency governed by a Board of Trustees with oversight from the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Environmental and Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2Tech)
E2Tech is a member-based organization comprised of individuals, businesses, and organizations that seek to build Maine's environmental and energy technology economy, including renewable energy companies, environmental engineers, emerging entrepreneurs, innovators and designers, as well as government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and businesses that see the economic promise of Cleantech for Maine.
Maine Renewable Energy Association
The Maine Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is a not-for-profit association of renewable energy producers, suppliers of goods and services to those producers, and other supporters of this industry. Its power producer members sustainably manufacture electricity from solar, wind, hydro and tidal. MREA represents the renewable power industry at the State Legislature and before the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Maine Climate Council
The Maine Climate Council is an assembly of scientists, industry leaders, bipartisan local and state officials, and engaged citizens tasked with developing a four-year plan to put Maine on a trajectory to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and at least 80% by 2050. Maine’s Climate Action Plan, Maine Won’t Wait, includes actionable strategies and goals to emit less carbon, produce energy from renewable sources and protect our natural resources, communities, and people from the effects of climate change.
2022 Progress Map and Dashboard | Maine Climate Plan
ClimateWork Maine
ClimateWork is an organization that offers information and support to small and medium businesses in Maine to help them better understand the effects of climate change, plan for the future, and be part of the solution.
Grants and Loans
Efficiency Maine Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive Program
Efficiency Maine has programs for businesses of all sizes, including multifamily buildings with three or more units and Maine’s largest energy customers. The C&I Prescriptive Program incentivizes prescriptive energy efficiency projects for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, multi-family weatherization, lighting and controls, commercial kitchen solutions, and more.
Efficiency Maine Commercial and Industrial Custom Program
The C&I Custom Program incentivizes tailored energy efficiency and distributed generation projects that require site-specific engineering analyses and/or projects with energy conservation measures that are not otherwise covered by the C&I Prescriptive Program incentives. Funding levels range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $1 million per customer, additional restrictions apply.