Why Is Maine Seeing an Increase in Renewable Energy Jobs?
It’s an exciting time for farmers and renewable energy companies, now that Maine is set to become one of the leaders in solar power and clean energy job growth. In June 2020, Governor Janet Mills signed three bills into law that will support Maine in becoming 100% renewable by 2050. Only five other states (Washington, New York, California, Vermont, and Hawaii) have set comparable ambitious clean energy mandates.
Solar in Maine Means Income for Farmers
Farmers in Maine or owners of commercial buildings will be some of the first to see the impact of the bills as they encourage investment in solar power through a mandate to award the first projects next year. In January 2020, the Public Utilities Commission will release the rules for solar companies to bid on the initial 25 MW available in summer 2020. Between January and July 2020, solar companies will be competing for that bid and securing suitable locations for solar projects. As a part of that competition, farmers should see an uptick in solar developers who are reaching out and offering them solar land leases to potentially build solar arrays on their property.
25 YEARS OF FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR FARMERS
A solar project lease translates into an immediate payday for farmers and a significant annual income once the project is developed and selected by the state, which translates into financial security for 25 years and a family legacy.
L.D. 1494: Maine has a Renewable Policy Standard which sets the pace and goal of renewable energy generation. This bill increases the standard to achieve 80% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
L.D. 1679: This bill promotes economic benefits and clean jobs for Maine residents by establishing the Maine Climate Council. The council is charged with developing action plans that support climate resiliency and the transition to a lower-carbon economy.
L.D. 1711: This bill reforms the state’s solar energy policies by expanding access to community solar, opening up energy choice to all consumers and creating incentives for 375 megawatts (MW) of new distributed generation.
The three bills go far beyond benefiting farmers and other property owners and will result in measurable economic growth. CCSA, the Coalition for Community Solar Access, predicts that L.D. 1711 will have a significant economic impact across Maine. Some benefits include an 87% increase in Maine’s solar workforce, $323.5 million in local economic benefits, more energy choice – serving approximately 18,100 customers and $157 million in earnings.
18,100 CUSTOMERS • $323.5 MILLION IN ECONOMIC BENEFITS • MORE ENERGY CHOICE
The bills will increase Maine’s solar capacity by seven times what it was at the end of 2018 and help drive the economy. Local Maine farmers will be crucial to its success and thus reap 25 years of benefits from choosing to bring solar energy to their community.
A community solar program is when multiple parties share the same power and financial benefits of a solar energy project. Learn all about community solar, how it works, its benefits, and the signup process.
Local Municipality Signs Up To Community Solar in Strong Signal of Support for OYA Solar
The Town of Independence in Allegany County has signed up to receive 10% in annual electricity savings through community solar in addition to the tax revenue it receives from hosting three community solar projects.
OYA Solar Secures Multi-Project Community Solar Subscription with Rensselaer County
YA Solar, a solar developer and asset owner, announced today that Rensselaer County has subscribed for 7.4 MWDC of clean energy from OYA’s community solar projects in New York State.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.