Maine’s Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) was establish
ed to advance Maine’s clean energy, climate, economic development, and workforce goals – including Governor Janet Mills' goal of more than doubling Maine’s clean energy and energy efficiency jobs by 2030.
Maine’s clean energy sector has high growth potential and is poised to become a leader in the Northeast. This will be accomplished by preparing and expanding our clean energy workforce as well as supporting innovation of clean tech products and services.
Supported by the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan and various federal funding sources, the Clean Energy Partnership will convene leading experts to sustain attention and promote collaboration to address emerging needs, build new and expand existing supply chains, and support opportunities for Maine in these fast-growing fields. This public-private partnership will play a critical role in Maine’s economic recovery and growth.
To advise this work, the GEO has convened an Advisory Group which will meet regularly to inform the work of this initiative. Future meetings of the Advisory Group will be listed here on GEO's public meeting calendar.
For more information about the Partnership, contact Clean Energy Partnership Program Manager Tagwongo Obomsawin at tagwongo.obomsawin@maine.gov.
About the Partnership
Workforce: In December of 2020, Governor Mills welcomed Maine’s climate action plan, Maine Won’t Wait, and established a target of more than doubling Maine’s clean energy and energy efficiency jobs to 30,000 by 2030. As of the end of 2023, there were roughly 15,600 clean energy workers across Maine and 142,000 workers employed in clean energy-related occupations – jobs that could be conducting clean energy work but are not necessarily doing so currently, such as electricians or HVAC mechanics.
Over the next decade, the state’s environmental and clean energy statutory requirements and goals will create continued demand for clean energy jobs. With clean energy workers in the state indicating high satisfaction with their careers, Maine has a significant opportunity to bridge the workforce gap by expanding outreach and raising awareness of clean energy careers among key populations.
Since 2022, GEO has awarded over $8 million in federal funds via the Clean Energy Partnership for clean energy workforce development and training programs. Programs have been launched across the state to support and prepare hundreds of Maine people for careers in the state’s rapidly growing clean energy sector, attracting new workers to the clean energy and energy efficiency workforce, providing career training and upskilling, and facilitating entry into the clean energy job market. For more information, visit this page.
Innovation: Since 2023, the GEO has awarded $2.25 million in federal funds via the Clean Energy Partnership to support business incubators, accelerators, or other business support services programs that contribute to the growth clean energy small businesses, contractors, and startups in Maine. These programs aim to grow innovation in four key energy sectors, including buildings and energy efficiency, renewable electric power generation, grid modernization and energy storage, and natural resource industries. These programs are supported by research and analysis to identify barriers, opportunities, and strategies to support the growth of Maine’s clean energy economy. For more information, visit this page.
About Maine's Clean Energy Workforce
To define the clean energy workforce and hiring landscape and identify strategies and opportunities for growth, the GEO has commissioned a series of reports: the 2024 Maine Clean Energy Industry Report, the 2022 Maine Offshore Wind Talent Analysis, and 2022 Maine Clean Energy Workforce Analysis Report. These studies showed that, in addition to strong job growth, Maine boasts above-average concentrations of construction and installation jobs—occupations which are pivotal to the clean energy sector. Additionally, Maine is well-positioned to provide environmental and marine expertise and services both in and outside of the state, with three times the national average concentration of Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, and more than eight times the national average concentration of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects.
Clean Energy Employment in Maine, 2019-2023. Source: 2024 Clean Energy Industry Report
Clean Energy Employment in Maine By Technology Sector, 2019-2023. Source: 2024 Clean Energy Industry Report
What are clean energy jobs? A clean energy job is any worker that is directly involved with the research, development, production, manufacture, distribution, sales, implementation, installation, or repair of components, goods, or services related to the following sectors of: clean energy generation, clean grid and storage, energy efficiency, clean fuels, and alternative transportation. These jobs also include supporting services such as consulting, finance, tax, and legal services related to energy.
Advisory Group
Advisory Group members are appointed by GEO and represent a range of key perspectives. Gathering input from a variety of stakeholders is an important component of the Clean Energy Partnership.
Co-chairs:
- Dan Burgess, Governor's Energy Office
- Jake Ward, University of Maine System
Members:
- Hannah Pingree, Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
- Heather Johnson & Charlotte Mace, Department of Economic and Community Development
- Laura Fortman & Samantha Dina, Department of Labor
- Matt Marks, Associated General Contractors of Maine
- Matt Kearns, Longroad Energy
- Fortunat Mueller, ReVision Energy
- Richard Burbank, Maine Building Performance Association
- Amanda Dwelley, E2 Tech Representative
- Dan Belyea, Maine Community College System
- Jason Shedlock, Maine State Building & Construction Trades Council
- Francis Eanes, Maine Labor Climate Council
- Nathan Post, Roux Institute
- Andy Lubershane, Energy Impact Partners
- Brian Whitney, Maine Technology Institute
- Dwight Littlefield, Department of Education
How to get involved
All Advisory Group meetings will be noticed in advance on the public meetings page. Relevant materials from each meeting will be posted below. To be placed on the interested parties list for meeting notifications and materials, email tagwongo.obomsawin@maine.gov.
Meeting materials are posted below. View a list of all upcoming meetings.
- February 11, 2025
- May 15, 2024: Advisory Group Meeting
- December 6, 2023: Advisory Group Meeting
- September 20, 2023: Advisory Group Meeting
- March 8, 2023: Advisory Group Meeting
- January 11, 2023: Advisory Group Meeting
- October 5, 2022: Advisory Group Meeting
- May 17, 2022: Advisory Group Meeting
Links and Resources
- Clean Energy Partnership Program Fact Sheet
- Maine Clean Energy Industry Reports
- Maine Clean Energy Workforce Analysis
- Maine Offshore Wind Talent Analysis