BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 25, 2024
Facebook or Instagram advertisements promoting conversions to solar power with costs covered by the state of Maine use official photos and formal-sounding program names to attract customers to solar incentives. One features a portrait of Gov. Janet Mills and mentions Maine’s “solar for all” program. Another says the state will cover the cost of installation and that people who sign up can “say bye” to their power bills. But these ads are misleading. There are many solar incentives available to Maine homeowners, including a federal solar tax credit program and a controversial net energy billing program, but they are not this generous. The state also has no role in producing the ads. When asked whether the Maine government is behind their program, a sales representative admitted that it’s “actually a federally backed program.” The financial incentives are not yet available for Maine residents.