With election season all but wrapped up, Maine’s GOP and their fossil fuel allies have been using misleading tactics to attack distributed energy resources, particularly community solar. As a Maine state representative and chair of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, I’ve witnessed the benefits of community solar firsthand and need to set the record straight: community solar is not the problem; it’s part of the solution.

Yes, electricity prices in Maine have risen, and yes, the current net energy billing (NEB) system requires a small monthly fee from ratepayers. But let’s be clear: the price spikes are not because of community solar. In fact, a Maine Public Utilities Commission study strongly suggests that the benefits of distributed solar far outweigh its costs, generating almost $30 million in net value. Yet, if you’ve heard the rhetoric from some politicians, you might mistakenly believe otherwise.

Maine families have long dealt with rising living costs, particularly in their electric bills. It’s an easy move for some elected officials to blame the “new” technology of solar, but this scapegoating ignores a bigger reality. Maine’s electric grid is deeply dependent on imported natural gas. Fossil fuels are the real driver of rising costs, not solar.

Solar energy makes up only about 5% of our electricity costs, whereas fossil fuels, especially natural gas, account for more than half. Maine’s energy system is highly reliant on fossil fuels, which are subject to price volatility from international conflicts, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical issues, such as the natural gas price spikes linked to global events. Meanwhile, Maine and the broader New England region don’t produce any of their own natural gas, yet we rely on it for over 60% of our electricity needs. The result? When gas prices rise, we all feel it in our energy bills.

Unlike natural gas, solar is stable, predictable and increasingly accessible. Community solar allows all types of Mainers – local ski resorts, local breweries, nonprofits and homeowners who can’t install their own panels – to benefit from clean, renewable energy. It’s a model that democratizes the energy market by allowing residents to subscribe to solar farms and receive credits on their electric bills, regardless of whether they own property or live in multifamily housing.

The benefits of community solar extend far beyond individual subscribers. The NEB program creates value for all Mainers, even those who don’t directly participate. NEB reduces the need for expensive grid upgrades, enhances overall energy reliability and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, community solar supports broader societal benefits like improving property values and reducing future environmental and public health costs associated with fossil fuel pollution.

Despite these clear advantages, some opponents claim that the NEB program is out of control and driving up costs. This is simply not true. My committee has reformed the NEB program three times in the last four years to ensure it remains fair, efficient and cost-effective for everyone involved. These reforms were carefully crafted to balance growth with cost management, ensuring that solar’s expansion benefits the state while maintaining protections for ratepayers.

Maine cannot afford to turn back the clock on solar investment now. Reversing course would harm customers who have invested in solar, landowners who lease land for solar farms and the entire solar supply chain. It could also lead to costly lawsuits and halt the progress of vital new solar projects. The next phase of solar development, supported by federal grants, aims to ensure equitable access to clean energy, particularly for low-income households. However, this vision will only succeed if we continue to support and expand community solar.

What’s at stake here is far more than energy policy. The future of Maine’s economy, environment and public health all depend on moving away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy like solar. The most cost-effective way to ensure a stable and sustainable energy future for our state is to continue expanding community solar programs.

Imagine a Maine family struggling to pay their electric bill finding stability through community solar. This isn’t a distant dream – thousands of families across the state are already benefiting from solar energy. By participating in community solar, we are investing in our state’s future and in our children’s future, all while saving money today. Don’t let misleading campaigns cloud the truth: we, the ratepayers, are the real beneficiaries of community solar. Together, we can build an energy system that works for everyone.