PORTLAND, Maine — Maine climbed seven spots in an annual clean energy ranking of U.S. states, boosted by a new look at ranking state renewable energy policies.
Maine ranked 22nd in the latest scoring from clean energy sector consultancy CleanEdge, which ranked California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Colorado and New York at the top of its 2015 list of states that have and encourage development of clean technology companies and renewable energy. Maine ranked 29th in the 2014 ranking.
The state’s ranking again was supported by Maine topping the country for adoption of smart electricity meter installations, which it estimated at 97.5 percent of all power customers.
The state also ranked fifth in the nation for the percentage of power generation in the state coming from renewable sources of wind power, hydropower, geothermal and biomass. About 60 percent of the state’s power came from those renewable resources in 2014, according to CleanEdge.
The survey ranks states based on technology, policy and investment capital. Maine moved little for the availability of capital for clean technology companies but rose in the technology and policy categories.
In the policy category, Maine made the most progress, moving up in the rank that’s based on the presence of 36 possible policies related to renewable energy. That includes efficiency incentives for residential and commercial buildings and grants for renewable energy.
Maine jumped in the 2014 ranking to 27th from 36th the previous year in the policy category.