PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 21, 2025
A halt to clean energy tax credits being considered in the Republican-controlled Congress and by the Trump administration could boost electricity prices in Maine by 17% over the next 15 years, adding an average of $15 to a monthly bill, according to a study. Eliminating tax credits could lead to a $22 billion-a-year falloff in clean power investment in the U.S.; in Maine, the loss would be $100 million annually, according to the report. Nearly 1,500 megawatts of power generated by onshore wind, battery storage and solar energy would be lost in the next 15 years in Maine, with most disappearing by 2030. The result would be a loss of less expensive clean energy produced in Maine, exposing consumers to price volatility for fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil, whose prices are tied to global markets.