Maine
Maine is making progress on climate action, especially in recent years under Governor Mills’ leadership.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Janet T. Mills (D)
House: Democratic majority
Senate: Democratic majority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
Maine State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Maine Climate Change Portal – Maine Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
Assessing the Potential Equity Outcomes of Maine’s Climate Action Plan: Framework, Analysis and Recommendations — Maine Climate Council
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2030:
45%
By 2045:
Carbon Neutral
All targets relative to 1990 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
50% by 2030 | Carbon neutral by 2045 Relative to 1990 levels
Mandate Source
2030: Mandatory – L.D. 1679 – An Act to Promote Clean Energy Jobs and To Establish the Maine Climate Council (2019)
2045: Mandatory – L.D. 1429 – An Act To Achieve Carbon Neutrality in Maine by the Year 2045 (2022)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Green Bank
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
LD 1579 (2022) – By 2025: 50% of the State’s new light-duty vehicles (LDVs) purchased or leased be plug-in hybrid or zero-emission vehicles | By 2030: 100% of state-purchased or leased LDVs must be plug-in hybrid or ZEVs
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
LD 2018 (2022)
Definition
“Frontline communities” means those people and communities that experience the consequences of climate change first and to a greater degree than other people and communities.
The Department of Environmental Protection must also define “environmental justice populations,” taking into consideration, at a minimum, median household income, race, ethnicity, and English language proficiency.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? No
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
EJ Bureaucracy
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 6 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 26th
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2015 IECC
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2015 IECC
Stretch or Reach Codes
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Efficiency Programs and Incentives
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 2 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 4 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
L.D. 940 (2021)
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 26th