February 3, 2025 (Augusta, ME) – The past few years have seen Maine families, local businesses, and Wabanaki Nations benefit from at least $2.2 billion in direct and induced investments in clean technology thanks to federal funding provided by Congress, according to a new analysis issued today. For the first time, the report quantifies the total investment in Maine made possible from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and comes at a time when the Trump Administration is considering cutting this lifeline for local communities. Click here to download the report (PDF) “Federal climate investments are making a real difference for Maine families and businesses by helping us become more energy independent, creating good-paying jobs, and developing new sources of homegrown clean energy,” said Jack Shapiro, Climate & Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) who authored the report. “Programs like this, many of which serve Maine’s low-income and rural communities, are at risk if Congress and the Trump Administration take the drastic step of repealing these important funding sources.” NRCM conducted a new analysis of data from the MIT/Rhodium Group Clean Investment Monitor, identifying $2.2 billion in direct and induced public and private investments that have benefited Maine since the passage of the IRA. The total includes $494.1 million in direct federal investment. When private investments are included, Maine has seen $842.1 million in large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage investments, and $1.37 billion invested in clean energy technologies for families and businesses like rooftop solar, heat pumps, and zero-emission cars spurred on by federal programs. “This report details the indisputable connection between clean energy and a competitive economy,” said Lindsay Bourgoine, Director of Policy and Government Affairs at ReVision Energy. “As a Maine-based and founded company, we are reinvesting these federal funds to build EV chargers, install heat pumps, and bring solar to schools, municipalities, and homeowners across the state, which creates a positive feedback loop for our local partners and communities. It is clear the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the Inflation Reduction Act strengthen our workforce, drive economic growth, and offer Mainers relief on their energy bills.” The report highlighted just a few of the local projects being supported in Maine that are benefiting Wabanaki Nations, low-income families, and local businesses:$206 million in energy grants and loans to rural small businesses and farms to help them reduce energy costs.
$134 million for energy efficiency upgrades and increased access to solar energy for low-income families, and $10 million for heat pumps in rural manufactured and mobile homes.
$6.6 million to improve reliability of the electric grid for Wabanaki Nations and local Maine communities, and $7.4 mill
