Climate Fast Facts: Maine

Climate & Energy Resources

• Latest Climate Science (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Global Warming & Maine (National Wildlife Federation)
• Cost of Delay (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges (The White House)

Jobs

Maine’s economy will gain a major boost from the clean energy economy. The state could gain 10,000 jobs and about $600 million in investment revenue if $150 billion was invested in clean energy nationwide, and drop unemployment by 1 percent.

• Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in Maine (Center for American Progress/PERI)
• Maine: Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth in Maine (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Opportunity

Maine has the potential to be a national leader in wind power generation ranking 19^th among states in potential generation. A nationwide $100 billion investment in green infrastructure over the next two years would bring nearly 1,000 jobs in solar and wind industries to Maine. Under the ACES bill Maine would receive $308 million for expanded energy efficiency investments, $270 million for oil, propane, and kerosene energy efficiency investments.

• ACES Funding for Efficiency Investments- ME (Environment Northeast)
• Charting a New Path for Maine’s Electricity Generation and Use (National Wildlife Federation)
• The Clean Energy Economy: Maine (Pew Center)
• Renewable Energy Works: Maine
• Energy Efficiency: Engine of Economic Growth (Environment Northeast)

Cut Costs

The average family in Maine would save $5.81 per month on their energy bills and a whopping $21.15 per month on vehicle fuel costs if the American Clean Energy and Security Act was enacted.

• Climate Bill Cuts Electricity Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Climate-Protection Policies Cut Fuel Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Summary of Competitiveness Provisions in ACES (Center for Clean Air Policy)
• Carbon Cap Critics Predict Healthy Economy in Maine under Cap-and-Trade (PERI/UMASS)
• Clean Energy, Green Jobs: A National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Boost the Economy and Protect the Environment (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Climate Consequences

The Maine climate could rise as much as 6°F by 2060. Being the most heavily forested state in the union, Maine faces significant danger to the ecosystems of its 17.6 million acres of coastal and inland forests. An expected sea level rise of 2 feet within the coming century will pose infrastructural challenges to Maine’s many coastal towns.

• Protecting Maine’s Communities, Economy and Environment from Global Warming (The Wilderness Society)
• Human Health Impacts of Global Warming on Maine (Pew Center)

• Climate Change Impacts on the Northeast: Maine Case Study (World Wildlife Fund)
• Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Northeast Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)

• Hotter Fields, Lower Yields: Global Warming's Impact on Agriculture (Environment America)

• Climate Change in the United States: The Prohibitive Costs of Inaction (Union of Concerned Scientists)

State Actions

While Congress debates climate and energy legislation on the Hill, Maine has established itself as an undisputed leader in state climate legislation. Maine has written a climate action plan, and is member of the northeast’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative cap-and-trade system. The state also has the preeminent renewable energy portfolio standard (30 percent by 2000), public benefit funds for energy efficiency, financial incentives for biofuels and set a state emissions target of 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

• Repower Maine (Alliance for Climate Protection)
• State Action on Global Warming (Pew Center on Climate Change) (see maps on state actions)

Regulating Carbon Markets

• Five Reasons Why Trading Allowances Will Help Meet Our Climate Objectives (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• The Senate’s Role in Getting Carbon Market Regulation Right (Natural Resources Defense Council)

News & Opinion

• Maine Taking Charge of its Energy Future (Portland Press Herald)
• Maine is Learning to Say 'Yes' to Tidal Power (Portland Press Herald)
• Climate Bill Faces More Challenge in the Senate (Bangor Daily News)