The Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) has announced that clean energy jobs in the state are expanding at nearly twice the rate of Maine’s overall workforce, according to its newly released 2024 Clean Energy Industry Report. The Clean Energy Industry Report is released annually as an independent analysis of Maine’s clean energy economy with the goal of providing insights into the opportunities and challenges within the state’s clean energy industry.
As highlighted in the report, the state’s clean energy sector now supports 15,600 jobs with rural counties experiencing the highest growth. Between 2020 and 2023, Piscataquis County saw a 46% increase in clean energy jobs, the largest in the state, while Penobscot County added 335 jobs, the most overall.
Of the various sectors reviewed in the report, energy efficiency remained the largest accounting for over 9,000 jobs or nearly 60% of Maine’s clean energy workforce. These energy efficiency jobs are primarily based in heat pump installation and maintenance, weatherization services, and traditional HVAC, among other areas.
“The clean energy sector is playing an increasingly important role in Maine’s economy, contributing billions and providing a steady stream of good job opportunities for Maine people,” said Dan Burgess, Director of GEO. In 2023 alone, the sector contributed nearly $3 billion to Maine’s economy.
The workforce growth highlighted in this year’s Clean Energy Industry Report reflects the efforts put in from GEO’s Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), which has invested over $6 million into training programs, career pathways, and business incubators since 2022 to expand Maine’s clean energy workforce and reach Governor Mill’s goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs by 2030.
To learn more about GEO’s past clean energy workforce initiatives, please see the following NASEO newsroom articles:
Maine Governor’s Energy Office Awards $2 Million to Clean Energy Workforce Training Programs
Maine Governor's Energy Office Announces a Digital Tool to Help Connect Jobseekers with Clean Energy Jobs and Training
Maine Governor's Energy Office Announces Significant Investment in Clean Energy Workforce Development