Poll: Maine Voters Support Solar Energy, But Deeply Concerned About Affordable Energy and See Lowering Costs as Top Priority

Findings Highlight that Residents of Maine Support Pro-Solar,
Pro-Grid and Pro-Consumer Policies

AUGUSTA, Maine–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$solar #CEA–Recent polling conducted for Consumer
Energy Alliance (CEA) examined how Maine voters feel about solar
power, including concerns about the availability of affordable energy
and the importance of lowering costs as a top priority for the state.
Accordingly, the poll also asked voters about their feelings on rooftop
solar, large-scale solar facilities, and the best way to increase solar
penetration.

Key findings:

• Overwhelming majorities of voters in Maine have a favorable view of
  solar energy, but are deeply concerned about affordable energy.
• Maine voters see lowering costs of energy as a top priority for the
  state.
• More than 59 percent of Maine residents think that large-scale solar
  facilities are the best way to decrease total energy costs and expand
  the use of solar energy to families and small businesses.

“CEA is glad to see that Maine lawmakers are earnestly working on energy
policy, but we are concerned that L.D. 1504 does not benefit families
and small businesses due to its unbalanced treatment of low-income
households, and the cost-shifting burden it creates for those without
solar panels on their property,” said James Voyles, Senior Director,
Policy Counsel for CEA. “This poll shows that people want solar energy
to become more affordable through large-scale projects, however, L.D.
1504 works to expand more expensive rooftop projects, which is
inconsistent with this poll’s results.”

Voyles added, “Results from this poll are encouraging. They demonstrate
Mainers’ dedication to clean energy through solar power and the shared
benefits this energy type can bring to communities across the state
without asking their neighbors to foot the bill for someone else’s
panels. The findings are also consistent with CEA’s solar incentives
report, proving that a majority of Maine voters endorse energy policy
that is pro-solar, pro-grid, and pro-consumer.”

CEA’s recent solar incentives report, titled “Incentivizing
Solar Energy: An In-Depth Analysis of U.S. Solar Incentives,”
provides a comprehensive quantification of solar incentives available
for U.S. energy consumers. The report analyzes the cost for a typical
solar facility in 15 states, including Maine, and details the federal,
state and local incentives available for rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV).

Polling documents available upon request.

About Consumer Energy Alliance

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small
businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support
America’s energy future. With more than 450,000 members nationwide, our
mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for
households across the country. We believe energy development is
something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary
for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we
develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the
economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

Contacts

Consumer Energy Alliance
Emily Haggstrom, 720-582-0242
[email protected]