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Cole Cochrane is the clean transportation advocate for Maine Youth for Climate Justice. He is the policy director for Harvard’s Undergraduate Clean Energy Group (HUCEG) and represents Maine on the Consumer Liaison Group of ISO-NE.
Maine has made meaningful progress in the transition to a clean energy economy — and I believe net energy billing (NEB) has played a vital role in that momentum. The program has helped municipalities, school districts, small businesses, and residents participate in solar energy projects by allowing them to receive credits for excess energy sent back to the grid. That incentive structure has not only made solar more accessible — it has brought real financial benefits to communities and helped move Maine toward its climate goals.
But right now, the progress we’ve made is at serious risk.
The Maine Legislature is considering a bill ( LD 1777) that would retroactively change the terms of Maine’s NEB program, all of which are concerning. Changing the rules after towns, schools, and developers have already made investments isn’t just unfair, it threatens to cause real harm to Maine’s reputation as a place for clean energy investment.
More than 110,000 Mainers are currently participating in NEB. That includes dozens of school districts and municipalities that have signed on as customers, often seeing energy savings they can use to pay teachers, fund infrastructure, or reduce the burden on taxpayers. These entities made thoughtful decisions, based on Maine law. Retroactively changing that policy may undermine their ability to plan and budget responsibly — and it raises the risk that some of those projects could fall apart, sending communities back to square one.
If this legislation passes, it could send a chilling message to the very people and organizations we should be encouraging: towns that want to cut energy costs, businesses that want to go green, developers that want to bring solar projects — and jobs — to Maine. These projects aren’t hypothetical; they’re already built or under construction. Investors have made commitments. Contracts have been signed. Maine residents have joined community solar farms to reduce the burden of their utility bills, all with the understanding that Maine’s word meant something.
Beyond the local impacts, the broader effect is clear: instability in clean energy policy erodes trust. Developers and businesses considering Maine will take note if lawmakers change the rules after the fact, especially if those changes hurt the very communities the policy was designed to help. That uncertainty could drive projects, jobs, and investment out of state.
Of course, no program is perfect. It’s fair to revisit and improve policies as the energy landscape evolves. But I believe LD 1777 goes too far, pulling the rug out from under those that have acted in good faith.
Maine Youth for Climate Justice is a coalition of hundreds of young people from across the state who are committed to building a livable future. That future depends on a clean, resilient energy system, and on a government that keeps its promises. Retroactive changes to NEB are more than a policy tweak; we view them as a breach of trust with towns, schools, and thousands of Mainers who believed the state would stand behind the policies it created.
Maine has the chance to lead on climate and energy. But that leadership means creating stability, not chaos. It means encouraging participation in clean energy programs, not punishing those who’ve already signed up. And it means honoring the commitments that have been made — especially when communities, schools, and taxpayers are the ones holding the bag if we don’t.
I urge lawmakers to scale back LD 1777 and instead focus on building a clean energy future we can all count on.