© 2024 Maine Public | Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scroll down to see all available streams.

Report: Maine Falling Behind on Solar Capacity

Patty Wight
/
MPBN
Left to right, Owen Mansfield, Environment Maine; South Portland Mayor Tom Blake; John Capron of ReVision Energy; and Portland Rep. Ben Chipman at a news conference Thursday.

PORTLAND, Maine - Advocates for solar power say Maine is falling behind most other states in its ranking for solar capacity.

Environment Maine today released its fourth annual report on solar energy in Maine. Owen Mansfield is a campaign organizer for the group.

"In this year's ranking, Maine dropped to 27th in per capita solar capacity, and 34th in total solar capacity," Mansfield says, "after ranking 24th and 29th respectively in both categories last year."

Mansfield says the state needs to enact policies to support solar power, such as tax credits and rebates. Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill this year that sought to expand solar energy through revised regulations. State Rep. Ben Chipman of Portland says the bill will be reintroduced next session.