Solar power in Maine

Solar power in Maine on rooftops can provide 60% of all electricity used in Maine with 6,300 MW of solar panels. Maine and Vermont are tied for the second highest in the country, behind California, for rooftop solar potential. A 2012 estimate suggests that a typical 5 kW system costing $25,000 before credits and utility savings will pay for itself in 14 years, and generate a profit of $24,683 over the rest of its 25-year life.

Net metering is available to all consumers for up to at least 100 kW generation. Excess generation is rolled over each month but is lost once each year. Maine is given a B for net metering and a B for interconnection.

In October 2007, Maine's largest solar array was the 15.12 kW solar array installed at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell for $166,000, which through June 11, 2012 has generated 73,416 kWh. Since then average solar costs have dropped substantially, and continue to decline.

In 2011 Maine's largest solar array, 41 kW, was installed on the roof of a new, LEED Platinum grocery store in Augusta. A 500 kW system is proposed for otherwise unusable land at the former Loring Air Force Base.

A 9.9 MW solar farm is proposed for Monroe, to be built in 2016.

In early 2017, the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) made a decision to phase out solar credits over 15 years. Current customers and new customers up until January 1, 2018 will be grandfathered and receive the current incentives and terms as of 2017. The policy applies to residential solar customers only, not large-scale or community projects. The decision was the result of the commission the finding middle ground between solar supporters and opponents of net metering.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage "lambasted the utility regulators" in a "rare press conference." He said he wants all three commissioners replaced immediately because of their decision. (He appointed all three of them to their seats). He also said that he wants to possibly expand the commission from three seats to five seats.

As of February 2017, there were around a dozen pieces of legislation concerning solar net metering introduced in the Maine state legislature.