Maine Public | By Peter McGuire
Published July 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM EDT

EXCERPTS

Maine's controversial subsidy program for commercial solar developments is coming to a close, following the passage of a law that stops new developments from receiving benefits and slashes compensation for existing solar farms.

About six years ago, lawmakers expanded Maine's Net Energy Billing program to encourage renewable energy in the state. And it worked — too well, some argue.

"The goal in 2019 was to build 750 megawatts of solar," said Maine Public Advocate Heather Sanborn. "And we have built 1,600 megawatts of solar under that program."

Net Energy Billing allows residents and businesses to install on-site solar power, then get credits on their electric bill for power they don't use and is sent back to the grid.......................

................But Eliza Donoghue, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association, said the rollbacks send a disturbing message to future investors that Maine won't stand by its commitments.

"They are no longer going to see Maine as a safe, reliable place to invest the real capital that we need in our clean energy transition," Donoghue said.

And Donoghue said Maine is abandoning its commercial solar program at the same time as Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration are taking aim at renewable energy, including by gutting tax credits for developers and homeowners in their signature "big beautiful bill" recently signed into law.

"I think there is generally wide agreement on the egregiousness of what's happening on the federal level in regards to the clean energy policy," Donoghue said. "Then for Maine to be piling on top of that? It's a really troubling mix."............................

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