Over the last year, from September 2024 to August 2025, Maine's electricity consumption has been predominantly clean, with low-carbon sources such as wind, solar, wood, and hydro providing about 62% of the total electricity. Within this group, wind and solar stand out, generating 17.4% and nearly 17% of the electricity, respectively, while hydropower contributes around 16%. On the other hand, fossil energy takes up roughly 37% of the electricity mix, with the substantial majority of that being generated from gas at about 36%. It's evident that Maine has shifted towards cleaner electricity sources, though there's still a significant reliance on fossil fuels that needs to be addressed to continue combating climate change and associated pollution.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Maine?
Currently, electricity consumption in Maine has decreased since its peak in 2004, reflecting a reduction of over 3,400 kWh/person. In contrast, low-carbon electricity generation has seen an encouraging climb, with current figures surpassing the previous record set in 2008 by over 400 kWh/person. Although total electricity consumption per person has experienced a decline, the growth in clean electricity generation is a hopeful sign of Maine's commitment to sustainability. To continue on this positive trajectory, it is crucial for Maine to increase its efforts in expanding clean energy to meet future consumption demands that are likely to rise due to continued electrification and technological advancements like AI.
Suggestions
Maine can further bolster its low-carbon electricity generation by focusing on the expansion of wind and solar power, which already play significant roles in its energy mix. Looking at successful regions can provide valuable insights—states like Iowa and South Dakota, which leverage wind to generate 60% and 56% of their electricity respectively, offer excellent models for enhancing wind capacity. Regarding solar energy, Maine can take inspiration from Nevada, which obtains a substantial 33% of its electricity from solar power. Additionally, exploring nuclear energy expansion can be pivotal for ensuring a stable, clean energy supply. States such as New Hampshire and South Carolina demonstrate how nuclear energy can be effectively integrated, with nuclear providing over 50% of their electricity. Embracing such strategies will be indispensable for Maine in increasing its low-carbon electricity generation.
History
Historically, Maine has seen varied fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation efforts over the decades. Starting in the mid-2000s, hydro and biofuels added noteworthy increments of 0.7 TWh and 0.5 TWh, respectively, in 2005. Subsequent years experienced ups and downs, with hydro contributing an additional 0.7 TWh in 2008 but also seeing declines in later years. Notably, wind energy became more prominent in the mid-2010s, with an increase in generation by 0.4 TWh in 2016 and an even more significant rise of 0.7 TWh in 2017. Despite challenges such as recent declines in hydro and biofuel production, these fluctuations emphasize the importance of stabilizing and increasing cleaner energy outputs, showcasing the need for ongoing investments and advancements in low-carbon technologies like wind, solar, and nuclear.
