Maine expedites the approval of renewable energy projects before federal tax incentives lapse

Headline: Maine Accelerates Renewable Energy Deployment to Meet Clean Energy Goals

Maine is pushing forward with renewable energy projects to meet its ambitious clean energy targets, as the state seeks to make up for clean-energy developments derailed by the pandemic.

The clean-energy industry is urging New York and California, among others, to follow suit and speed up wind and solar deployments before subsidies expire in the coming years.

In Maine, the state aims to progress towards its newly mandated target of 100% clean energy by 2040. To achieve this, the state is seeking enough bids to meet approximately 13% of its annual electricity usage.

Two significant renewable energy projects are being proposed by Vineyard Wind and Avangrid. The companies have set a proposal submission deadline for September 9, 2022.

Maine Audubon, a nonprofit industry group, supports the deployment of solar and other renewable technologies to minimize habitat turnover. Francesca Gundrum, director of advocacy for Maine Audubon, stated that the renewable energy specification is a win for renewable energy, wildlife, and farmers whose land has been rendered unusable for agriculture.

Preference will be given to renewable energy developments that make use of property contaminated by toxic PFAS, a persistent pollutant that has affected at least 60 Maine farms. This approach aims to remediate contaminated sites while generating clean energy.

Eliza Donoghue, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association, stated that this is an opportunity to get things done that Maine had intended to do in the past. The goal is to start these projects before key incentives disappear under the budget law signed by President Donald Trump.

These renewable energy projects in Maine are considered good news, as they will help the state progress towards its clean energy goals and mitigate the impact of PFAS contamination on local farms.