Augusta, MAINE — The Maine Governor’s Energy Office has issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) termination of Maine’s $62 million Solar for All award:
“Thousands of Maine people stood to benefit from lower energy bills delivered by the Solar for All program. Terminating this funding doesn’t help Maine people, it only hurts them,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office. “Canceling the program deprives Maine of access to affordable solar, energy storage, and the skilled electricians, installers, and construction workers needed to meet our energy and economic needs now and in the future. We remain committed to this program and will review all options to preserve it.”
In April 2024, the EPA awarded the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) $62 million through the federal Solar for All program to expand access to affordable, reliable solar energy and storage while growing the state’s clean energy workforce.
Maine’s Solar for All application was estimated to help over 20,000 low-income Maine households save between $380 and $1,400 annually on their energy bills through incentives for rooftop solar with storage, support for cooperatively owned projects, and a new community solar and storage program – all designed to benefit Maine ratepayers.
The proposed program also included funding to support workforce training for over 700 Maine residents in electrical work, construction, maintenance and repair, and other essential building trades.
Solar lowers energy costs and improves reliability by reducing demand on the grid, cutting wholesale energy prices, and reducing the need for costly transmission and distribution investments. During extreme heat waves like the ones Maine experienced this summer, solar saves customers millions and reduces the region’s reliance on costly and volatile fossil fuels.
Maine’s Solar for All award funds were fully obligated to the state by December 2024, and GEO has since worked with EPA to meet program timelines and requirements. In July 2025, EPA approved GEO’s plan to implement the program, with competitive funding opportunities planned for this year and benefits expected to reach Maine people by 2026.
GEO is reviewing the EPA notice and working to determine next steps in consultation with the Office of the Maine Attorney General.
