SUN JOURNAL • April 13, 2026
A recent op-ed in this paper argued that if Maine is going to produce local energy that will be exported to other states, Maine needs to see the benefits. But if Maine can make clean energy locally and receive jobs and tax revenue in return, isn’t that a win for Maine? Energy production truly does mean business for Maine. There are 16,171 clean energy workers in Maine — 3% of our total workforce. And according to a recent report from the Maine Department of Energy Resources clean energy jobs are outpacing overall job growth in Maine. These jobs are on the rise in almost every Maine county, especially rural ones. That same report found the clean energy industry contributed $3 billion to our economy in 2024 — about 3% of our total GDP. Energy is a product that Maine can make and export. That’s a win for Maine and our entire region. ~ Eliza Donoghue, Maine Renewable Energy Association