A Climate to Thrive (ACTT) | Maine Climate Action Now (MCAN) | Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM)
A Positive Step to Address the Energy Affordability Crisis
April 3, 2026 (Augusta, ME) – The Maine Legislature gave final approval on Thursday April 2 to a bill (LD 1730) that will allow residents to install compact plug-in solar panels in their home or apartment with the help of a qualified electrician. The legislation received bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and now moves to the Governor’s desk.
Plug-in solar began in Germany and has become widely adopted throughout Europe. Due to their popularity and affordability, these small compact systems have been modified to U.S. electrical standards and can be plugged into an outdoor outlet to generate energy on-site and offset the amount of electricity a customer needs to buy from their utility.
Photo courtesy A Climate to Thrive
Given the varied electrical wiring in homes across Maine, LD 1730 emphasizes safety for consumers and line workers by requiring systems be installed by a licensed electrician. For the average household in Maine, a 1,200-Watt plug-in solar system could cut electricity bills by nearly 20% or $388 a year, according to the Office of the Public Advocate.
“Plug-in solar opens the door for every Mainer, regardless of their income or housing type, to participate in our clean energy future,” said Beth Woolfolk, Manager of Renewable Energy Planning & Policy at A Climate to Thrive. “We are grateful to Senator Grohoski and Representative Freidmann for championing LD 1730, because it gives people real power to lower their bills and take meaningful steps toward their own energy independence without unnecessary utility barriers.”
More than 70% of Mainers report struggling to pay their electricity bills, and the last five years have seen a 68% increase in Central Maine Power’s electricity rates, according to Public Utilities Commission Commissioner Patrick Scully. When oil and gas prices jump, like they are right now, Maine’s electricity prices follow, hitting the poorest households hardest. Building more sources of renewable energy, of all types and sizes, will help protect electricity customers from these rising prices.
“We are excited to see ratepayers empowered to take control of their electricity costs in the face of the current affordability crisis exacerbated by utilities’ high profit margins,” said Amy Eshoo, Director of Maine Climate Action Now.
Once the Governor signs LD 1730, Mainers will be one step closer to accessing small plug‑in solar kits that can reduce their household’s monthly bill immediately without seeking approval through the utility interconnection process required for larger rooftop systems 10-20 times the size. These units require no rooftop construction and can be installed almost anywhere, including on the ground, balcony, deck, or side of a building.
“Generating renewable energy here in Maine is the quickest and most reliable way to buffer against our dependence on fossil fuels that is driving up electricity prices,” said Rebecca Schultz, Senior Advocate for Climate & Clean Energy at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “As Mainers, we value self-reliance, and plug-in solar is one practical way we can help put affordable energy directly in the hands of more people across the state, allowing everyone from renters to lower-income households a simple way to take advantage of the cheapest energy on the planet.”
