Mills Says Maine is Going Green by 2040, So Buckle Up and Plug In

Governor Janet Mills says Maine is cruising toward a fully green future by 2040, and according to her, the state is actually ahead of schedule. Mills delivered the update at Monday’s meeting of the Maine Climate Council, the group she launched when she took office in 2019.

According to WGME 13, the council includes 39 people that consists of scientists, industry leaders, elected officials, and regular Maine folks who know exactly what it feels like to heat a house through a February cold snap.

Mills highlighted the progress Maine has made thanks to incentives and investments aimed at cutting fossil-fuel dependence. One of the biggest wins, she says, comes from heat pumps, the news station reported.

After offering tax credits to help homeowners and businesses switch over, Maine has now installed more than 180,000 heat pumps, nearly doubling the original goal of 100,000. For a state with more drafty old farmhouses than Dunkin’ locations, and that’s saying something, she calls that a major milestone.

She also stressed that climate change isn’t some political team sport. In classic Janet fashion, she reminded everyone:

“The climate doesn’t know if you’re a red state or blue state or green state or pink state. The planet doesn’t care if you’re Republican, Democrat, Green Party, or Independent. This is action that requires all parties to work together.”

WGME said that Mills even tossed in a nod to former Republican Governor Paul LePage, noting he clearly saw the benefit of heat pumps too — the Blaine House ended up with 23 of them.

Whether you’re red, blue, or “leave me alone I’m shoveling,” Mills says Maine’s green future is already underway.