Maine Focuses On Renewables Even As Trump Revokes Climate Policies - CleanTechnica

Maine is advancing its clean energy agenda despite federal rollbacks under the Trump administration. Governor Janet Mills signed legislation accelerating the state's transition to 100% clean energy, setting a target of 90% renewable and 10% low or zero-carbon energy sources by 2040—moving previous goals up by a decade. The state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) has already driven significant economic benefits, including over $100 million in direct investments, nearly $900 million in operations spending, and more than 1,000 full-time jobs between 2008 and 2022. In 2023, approximately 65% of Maine’s energy came from renewable sources. Regional collaboration is a cornerstone of Maine’s strategy, with the Maine Public Utilities Commission directed to work with other New England states to negotiate competitively priced energy contracts and jointly procure clean energy, transmission, and storage projects. This cooperative approach is vital given the interconnected nature of power systems and the need to manage costs and reliability effectively.