Clean Energy Partnership | Maine Department of Energy Resources

Maine’s Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) was established to advance Maine’s clean energy, climate, economic development, and workforce goals. Maine’s clean energy sector has high growth potential and is poised to become a leader in the Northeast. This will be accomplished by preparing and expanding our clean energy workforce as well as supporting innovation of clean tech products and services.

The Clean Energy Partnership convenes leading CEP logo 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. This public-private partnership will play a critical role in Maine’s economic recovery and growth. To advise this work, DOER has convened an Advisory Group which will meet regularly to inform the work of this initiative. Future meetings of the Advisory Group will be listed here on DOER's public meeting calendar.

For more information about the Partnership, contact Clean Energy Partnership Program Manager Tagwongo Obomsawin at tagwongo.obomsawin@maine.gov.

About the Partnership

Workforce: At the end of 2024, there were over 16,000 clean energy workers across Maine. With clean energy workers in the state indicating high satisfaction with their careers, Maine has a significant opportunity to bridge the workforce gap by expanding outreach and raising awareness of clean energy careers among key populations.

DOER has awarded over $8 million in federal funds via the Clean Energy Partnership for clean energy workforce development and training programs. Programs have been launched across the state to support and prepare hundreds of Maine people for careers in the state’s rapidly growing clean energy sector, attracting new workers to the clean energy and energy efficiency workforce, providing career training and upskilling, and facilitating entry into the clean energy job market. For more information, visit this page.

Innovation: DOER has awarded $2.25 million in federal funds via the Clean Energy Partnership to support business incubators, accelerators, or other business support services programs that contribute to the growth clean energy small businesses, contractors, and startups in Maine. These programs aim to grow innovation in four key energy sectors, including buildings and energy efficiency, renewable electric power generation, grid modernization and energy storage, and natural resource industries. These programs are supported by research and analysis to identify barriers, opportunities, and strategies to support the growth of Maine’s clean energy economy. For more information, visit this page.

About Maine's Clean Energy Workforce

A clean energy job is defined as work that is directly involved with the research, development, production, manufacture, distribution, sales, implementation, installation, or repair of components, goods, or services related to the following sectors of: clean energy generation, clean grid and storage, energy efficiency, clean fuels, and alternative transportation. These jobs also include supporting services such as consulting, finance, tax, and legal services related to energy.

To analyze Maine's clean energy workforce and broader economy, each year DOER commissions the Maine Clean Energy Industry Report. The most recent report, published March 2026, shows that clean energy jobs in Maine grew by more than three times the rate of the total economy of Maine in 2024 and outpaced that of the national clean energy labor force. Maine had nearly 16,200 clean energy workers in 2024.

Clean energy job growth

The energy efficiency sector added the greatest number of jobs in Maine since 2020, increasing by almost 1,500. From 2023 to 2024, this sector grew by more than 5 percent, adding nearly 500 jobs to the clean energy industry. The energy efficiency sector employed roughly 60 percent of all clean energy workers in Maine at the end of 2024 and remained the highest employing clean energy sector in the state since 2016.

Clean Energy Employment in Maine, 2020-2024. Source: Clean Energy Industry Report, published 2026

Clean energy job growth by sector

Clean Energy Employment in Maine By Technology Sector, 2020-2024. Source: Clean Energy Industry Report, published 2026

High Demand Clean Energy Occupations

Five key occupations are identified as critical to Maine’s clean energy workforce strategy based on their projected growth and current demand, importance in the clean energy economy, and frequent hiring challenges. In 2026, DOER developed printer-friendly single-page profiles for each of these occupations, highlighting their role in clean energy, job growth, average wages, training and licensing required, and key certifications. Click the links below to view and download the one-page occupational profiles:

Carpenters (PDF link)
Electricians (PDF link)
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics (PDF link)
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (PDF link)
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (PDF link)

Advisory Group

Advisory Group members are appointed by DOER and represent a range of key perspectives. Gathering input from a variety of stakeholders is an important component of the Clean Energy Partnership.

Co-chairs:

Dan Burgess, Maine Department of Energy Resources
Jake Ward, University of Maine System

Members:

Charlotte Mace, Department of Economic and Community Development
Laura Fortman & Samantha Dina, Department of Labor
Matt Marks, Associated General Contractors of Maine
Matt Kearns, Longroad Energy
Fortunat Mueller, ReVision Energy
Richard Burbank, Maine Building Performance Association
Amanda Dwelley, E2 Tech Representative
Dan Belyea, Maine Community College System
Jason Shedlock, Maine State Building & Construction Trades Council
Francis Eanes, Maine Labor Climate Council
Nathan Post, WindTester LLC
Andy Lubershane, Energy Impact Partners
Brian Whitney, Maine Technology Institute
Dwight Littlefield, Department of Education

Public Meetings

All Advisory Group meetings will be noticed in advance on the public meetings page. Slides from meetings prior to 2024 are posted below. For more recent meeting information, visit the DOER meeting archive page.