Maine's clean energy workforce is growing, but more workers are needed
FILE PHOTO / COURTESY SOLARLOGIX LLC
Solarlogix, seen here working for a Developers Collaborative affordable housing project in Belfast, has rapidly expanded since 2015.
Maine’s clean energy workforce reached nearly 15,600 jobs in 2023, growing at a rate nearly twice that of the state’s overall workforce since 2019, according to the latest Maine Clean Energy Industry Report, released by the Governor’s Energy Office.
That’s over half the state’s goal of expanding Maine’s clean energy workforce to 30,000 positions by 2030, as part of its pursuit to achieve 100% clean retail electricity by 2040.
However, a separate report said the industry struggles with a workforce shortage. For example, weatherization assistance program administrators and contractors reported that employee recruitment and retention was their greatest challenge in 2022, according to a Maine Energy Efficiency Contractor Needs Assessment, released by the Building Performance Alliance in 2024.
The assessment called for the Governor’s Energy Office to amplify marketing, outreach and education efforts to improve employee recruitment and retention.
Growing workforce
The 15,600 clean energy workers in 2023 represented 2.4% of Maine’s workforce, according to the industry report.
- Since 2019, Maine has added more than 900 clean energy jobs, a growth rate of more than 6%, more than double the rate of the state’s overall workforce.
- Of those 900 jobs, 500 were added between 2022 and 2023.
- Over one-third of clean energy jobs are in renewable electric power generation.
- Approximately 2,600 business establishments in Maine are involved in clean energy activities, representing 4.3% of all establishments in the state.
- Since 2023, 84 additional establishments have been added to the clean energy economy.
The growing industry is illustrated by companies like SolarLogix LLC, a Belfast company founded in 2015 by Josh Oxley. Focused on the electrification market, SolarLogix grew to 47 employees in 2024, with growth in revenue and a move last year into an expanded facility.
Oxley has told Mainebiz his strategy for attracting employees includes in-house training, benefits and competitive pay rates.
Rural jobs
Clean energy jobs are on the rise in nearly all Maine counties, with rural counties experiencing the most growth, the report says.
- Somerset County has the highest percentage of clean energy jobs compared to its total workforce;
- Piscataquis County experienced a 46% increase in clean energy jobs between 2020 and 2023, the largest in the state;
- Penobscot County added 335 total clean energy jobs between 2020 and 2023, the most of any county.
The report found that the growth of Maine’s clean energy sector outpaced that of other New England states and contributed nearly $3 billion to the state’s economy in 2023.
“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 the Governor’s Energy Office.
The clean energy industry is offering opportunities for occupations such as electricians, heat pump installers, and weatherization technicians, said Laura Fortman, commissioner of Maine’s Department of Labor.
Fortman touted workforce development programs such as registered apprenticeships as effective vehicles for connecting people with opportunities.
Various programs working to cultivate the workforce include one run by Northern Maine Community College, which has graduated around 100 students since it launched over 15 years ago.
While not targeted solely to clean energy, Associated General Contractors of Maine has been offering a Maine Construction Academy since 2023, hosting construction immersion programs in various communities in partnership with local schools, technical centers and Maine employers and providing pre-apprenticeship pathways.
“With the recent commitments to investment in our state’s transportation infrastructure, climate resiliency, clean energy and vertical building construction, these trainings and career opportunities will provide a solid foundation for the future of our workforce,” said Kelly Flagg, AGC Maine’s executive director, has said.
Training and up-skilling
Clean energy jobs include research, development, production, manufacture, distribution, sales, implementation, installation or repair of clean energy components, goods or services.
The report analyzed employment across five clean energy sectors — energy efficiency, clean power generation, transportation, grid and storage, and renewable fuels.
Of those sectors, the largest was energy efficiency, which accounted for over 9,000 jobs or nearly 60% of Maine's clean energy workforce. Energy efficiency jobs include heat pump installation and maintenance, weatherization services and traditional heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
Since 2022, the Governor’s Energy Office has awarded nearly $5 million in grants to support clean energy workforce development programs to attract new workers, provide career training and up-skilling, and facilitate entry into the market.
In 2023, the office awarded $1.3 million in grants to support new business accelerator and incubator programs.
Last year, the office launched the Maine Clean Energy Jobs Network, an online job board that connects jobs seekers with Maine-based clean energy employers and training programs. The website lists dozens of open positions, employers and training opportunities across the state.
The report is an independent analysis that uses data from the U.S. Department of Energy.
For the full report, click here.
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