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Stacey Fitts is a life-long resident of Pittsfield, a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy and he served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2004 to 2012.
Sen. Susan Collins and other members of Maine’s congressional delegation must work together to preserve funding that Congress set aside in a 2022 bill called the Inflation Reduction Act (or “IRA” for short) for renewable energy projects in states across the country, including Maine. Continuing to invest in Maine’s renewable energy capabilities makes good sense for our economy, our environment, and our economic future. An all-of-the-above energy approach that embraces clean and renewable resources and related technologies will help keep energy costs down for Maine homes and businesses while spurring economic growth and job opportunities in communities throughout the state.
I am a sixth-generation Mainer, and I’ve worked in Maine’s energy industry for my entire 40 -year career. Over the years, I’ve gained all-of-the-above energy experience as a manager of thermal, hydroelectric, and wind generation assets. I also spent eight years serving the people of Maine in the Maine House as a state representative and as a member of the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee.
Mainers want and deserve low cost and reliable energy and the IRA helps Maine achieve those goals.
The IRA will benefit Mainers by encouraging lower cost energy development that provides good quality, well-paying jobs in Maine. Congress passed the IRA to provide vital tax credits, rebates, and funding mechanisms to expand renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts that will help lower emissions, reduce energy waste, and lower Mainer’s utility bills. For Maine, the IRA’s tax incentives — along with cost-saving rebates from Efficiency Maine — are helping Mainers gain access to money-saving energy solutions like heat pumps and weatherization upgrades.
The IRA also includes tax incentives designed to help support further development of Maine’s — and America’s — wind resources. Wind energy has been steadily growing in Maine for years. As of 2023, wind energy was responsible for over a quarter of all renewable electricity generation in the state, ranking Maine 10th in the nation in wind power share. Support for offshore — and additional onshore — wind opportunities would unlock significant energy production opportunities to shore up Maine’s energy future.
The IRA’s federal investment creates opportunities for Maine businesses and communities to benefit from the increased tax revenues, system reliability, and cost savings that such renewable energy projects provide.
I urge Maine’s congressional delegation, particularly Sen. Susan Collins, to continue supporting thoughtful, forward-thinking energy policies and laws, like the IRA, that help support the energy transition. While Collins did not vote for the IRA in 2022, she has always worked across the aisle to help advance common sense, pro-growth policies that benefit Maine residents and businesses, and I hope that she will see that supporting the IRA should be no different.
Right now, it is critical that our elected officials support funding smart energy policies that deliver critical investments that Maine communities need to expand low-cost energy production, strengthen our energy infrastructure, and continue growing our clean energy economy and workforce.
