Report details how clean energy industries could drive economic growth in Maine

A new report details how Maine’s clean energy economy is emerging as an engine of economic growth and workforce opportunities to help the state recover from the economic damage caused by COVID-19.

The report, Strengthening Maine’s Clean Energy Economy, was conducted by the Governor’s Energy Office and Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.

The report featured strategies to expand Maine’s clean economy workforce and training opportunities in renewable power generation and energy efficiency. Specifically, the report found that Maine’s recent policy changes and investments in clean energy and energy efficiency should increase workforce demands for these growing industries. Maine’s innovation centers around forest products and floating offshore wind could also provide additional opportunities as new markets emerge.

“The global threat of climate change looms large over the future of our state, eclipsed only by our determination to combat it and to create good paying jobs to boot,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills said. “Over the past two years, through bold action and bipartisan policymaking, we have seen a clean energy economy begin to blossom in Maine. We have proven Maine is a leader forging the path to a clean energy future built by good paying, green collar jobs in innovative industries. Now more than ever, we can’t lose sight of that future and the steps it will take to get there.”

Nationally, clean energy careers have eclipsed employment in fossil-fuel energy sectors. Three of the top five states for clean energy workers per capita are in New England — Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island. Maine had approximately 14,000 workers in clean energy fields.

“Maine is making unprecedented investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, we must ensure we have the necessary skilled workforce to meet the growing demand,” Dan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Energy Office, said. “This opportunity before Maine is significant, and this report lays out strategies we believe will be most effective to grow this dynamic economic sector.”

The report calls for enhancing career and technical opportunities for Maine high school and college students and marketing and recruitment for clean energy careers.

Growing Maine’s clean energy industry is a major goal of the Mills Administration. The state set a requirement that 80 percent of electricity must come from renewable sources by 2030 and a goal of 100 percent by 2050 – if not sooner.

“The impacts of climate change on Maine are already being felt, and the threat to our state is severe unless bold steps are taken,” Hannah Pingree, director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and co-chair of the Maine Climate Council, said. “These bold actions also come with the opportunity to grow good paying jobs in clean energy and innovative natural resources industries, which is a win-win opportunity for Maine to both reduce greenhouse emissions and grow our economy.”