Maine’s clean energy sector shot up 20% in 2022, pumping $2.31 billion into the state economy. Over 15,600 workers—about 2.4% of Maine’s workforce—now hold green jobs, with numbers growing twice as fast as other sectors. Federal investments of $2.2 billion are fueling this boom. Meanwhile, Trump threatens to axe climate policies if re-elected. The contrast couldn’t be starker between Maine’s green ambitions and potential federal rollbacks.
Numbers don’t lie—Maine’s green economy is booming. The Pine Tree State’s clean energy sector contributed a whopping $2.31 billion to the economy in 2022, and things only got better from there. While the rest of the economy grew at a respectable 1.7%, clean energy jobs surged 3.6%. That’s what you call leaving the competition in the dust.
Maine now boasts more than 2,500 clean energy businesses employing 15,600 workers—about 2.4% of the state’s entire workforce. And they added another 500+ jobs between 2022-2023. Not too shabby for a rural state.
The sector’s gross state product jumped 20% in just one year, more than doubling the overall state GSP growth of 7.2%. Yeah, you read that right. Twenty percent. Public utilities led the charge with $1.3 billion in contributions, while professional services kicked in another $635 million. Solar energy saw particularly impressive growth with 13.5% more jobs added in the last year. This mirrors the global trend where solar PV capacity increased by 25.6% in 2022.
Federal dollars are pouring in too. The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are pumping $2.2 billion into Maine’s green economy. Nearly $800 million is earmarked for energy infrastructure alone. Ka-ching!
Energy efficiency remains king, accounting for 60% of clean energy workers and growing 3.7% since 2022. But renewable power generation isn’t far behind. These gains come despite the Trump administration’s plans to remove climate science references from federal websites and halt clean-tech research funding.
Maine isn’t just participating in the green revolution—it’s leading it. The state boasts the fastest-growing clean energy economy in New England since 2019, with a growth rate double that of its overall workforce. Take that, Massachusetts.
Rural counties are seeing the biggest gains. Piscataquis County, hardly a metropolitan powerhouse, saw clean energy jobs skyrocket 46% between 2020-2023.
Looking ahead, Maine aims to double its clean energy workforce to 30,000 by 2030. With goals of 80% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% by 2040, plus 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2040, the state isn’t slowing down. The future looks bright—and remarkably green.
