Renewed fossil fuel investments raise prices, pollution in Maine

The nonpartisan think tank Energy Innovation found last year’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other regulatory changes will add an average of $320 to Maine household energy bills in 2035 and more than $400 by 2040.

Daniel O’Brien, senior analyst for Energy Innovation, said the repeal of tax credits meant to boost clean energy generation is adding to the cost.

“Natural gas generation and power plants are quite expensive right now, and solar and wind resources, along with grid batteries, are really the way to push down prices,” O’Brien explained.

The White House declared a national energy emergency last year in order to fast-track permits for new fossil fuel infrastructure and keep older coal plants online. Republicans have dubbed previous federal investments in clean energy as a “Green New Scam.”

The analysis showed cuts to domestic manufacturing and innovation will cost Maine roughly 1,000 jobs per year over the next decade in addition to the 190 clean energy jobs already lost since January 2025. Maine had a goal to use offshore wind for at least half its energy needs by 2040 but the Trump administration paid an energy developer nearly $1 billion to cancel offshore wind projects along the East Coast.

O’Brien noted Maine can expect to see more negative health effects, such as higher asthma rates in children, due to the pollution fossil fuel plants create.

“If we tug the rug out from underneath these technologies that are very low cost, it’s also going to increase pollution in our local communities and as a result, increase healthcare costs for families,” O’Brien contended.

He added local air pollution is expected to raise healthcare costs in Maine by $43 million with annual increases of more than $3 million in 2035.

The EPA’s rejection of climate science and federal tailpipe emission standards is also expected to inflate gasoline prices in addition to the increases caused by the Iran war.

The analysis pointed out state leaders could help limit price hikes and improve health by investing in efficient technologies and electric vehicle infrastructure, pushing utilities to contract with smaller, clean energy producers and cutting red tape to help households bring their own clean energy systems online.