Maine has made bold and important progress in recent years toward energy independence and economic growth. Much of our advancement is thanks to the synergistic work between state policymakers and our federal representatives. Sen. Collins’ consistent support for clean energy has been vital — and her leadership is more important now than ever.

Maine has long been the most heating oil-dependent state in the country, making our citizens vulnerable to shifting global oil markets and more and more households with high energy costs. Our state spends more than $4.5 billion a year on out-of-state fossil fuels that contribute to global warming.

Clean energy, primarily from solar and onshore and offshore wind, offers the state a lifeline, and Maine is taking advantage. Maine’s clean energy economy has grown rapidly in recent years, resulting in a billion dollars in investment, $21.5 million annually in ratepayer benefits and more than 15,000 Mainers employed in the clean energy industry. This growth is no accident. It’s the result of smart, forward-looking policy decisions by Sen. Collins, and other state and federal decision makers, that are transforming Maine’s economy and environment for the better.

One of the most recent catalysts for this change is the federal clean energy tax credits. These incentives are doing exactly what they were designed to do: jumpstarting American manufacturing and driving a clean energy boom. Since the passage of the tax credits, more than $6.7 billion in clean energy and manufacturing projects have been announced in Maine alone, supporting over 4,500 jobs.

Across the state we are seeing transformative investments that are fueled by these credits. From the $6 million investment in a heat pump manufacturing facility in Bangor by Nyle Systems, to the Freedom Pine Solar project in southern Maine; from the Cross Town Energy Storage project in Gorham to the Swift Current Energy’s Three Rivers Solar Project in Hancock County, all of these investments bring jobs, cleaner air and greater investment in our economy, and all are at risk of disappearing without these credits.

However, future progress is not guaranteed. Efforts underway in Washington, D.C., to eliminate the credits threaten a costly step backward for Maine, imperiling investments already on the table; raising energy costs for households, farmers, fishermen and businesses; and injecting uncertainty into a sector that depends on long-term planning and stability. If these credits are eliminated, it is expected that monthly electricity bills for Americans will increase by close to 7% next year alone.

This would be a shame. Because clean energy isn’t just good for the economy. It also helps preserve what makes Maine special. This is why renewables have garnered bipartisan support in Maine over the years, going back to Sen. Collins’ support for renewable energy in the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill in 1999. It’s not a partisan issue. It’s a pragmatic one. It’s about economic development and environmental stewardship.

At Maine Audubon, we know firsthand that business and wildlife both benefit from clean energy growth. We work directly with industry and partners to prioritize the development of responsibly sited clean energy that delivers clean air and emissions reductions for birds and people.

And in the Maine economic development community, we know the importance that smart policy plays in creating a business environment that invites investment and innovation. Sen. Collins has consistently shown that she understands this intersection of interests, and we thank her for continuing this forward-looking leadership for Maine by standing up for the clean energy tax credits.