Maine
Grade distribution
Overview
Maine has 16 counties tracked in the SitePath solar permitting index. 13 (81%) are graded A or B, meaning they present low to moderate permitting risk for utility-scale solar projects. 3 counties sit in the C range — moderate risk with meaningful process uncertainty.
The most favorable jurisdictions in Maine include Kennebec County (grade B), Lincoln County (grade B), Sagadahoc County (grade B). The most challenging include Aroostook County (grade C), Somerset County (grade C), Franklin County (grade C).
At the state level, Maine's RPS 80% by 2030 commitment creates a supportive macro environment for solar development, though county-level boards retain significant discretion over individual project approvals. No Maine counties currently have an active utility-scale solar moratorium.
All counties — sorted by risk score (best first)
| County | Grade | Score | Trajectory | Moratorium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennebec County | B | 34 | ↑ | |
| Lincoln County | B | 34 | — | |
| Sagadahoc County | B | 35 | ↓ | |
| Knox County | B | 35 | ↑ | |
| York County | B | 35 | ↑ | |
| Cumberland County | B | 36 | — | |
| Waldo County | B | 37 | ↑ | |
| Androscoggin County | B | 37 | — | |
| Piscataquis County | B | 39 | — | |
| Washington County | B | 39 | — | |
| Penobscot County | B | 41 | — | |
| Hancock County | B | 41 | — | |
| Oxford County | B | 41 | ↓ | |
| Aroostook County | C | 42 | — | |
| Somerset County | C | 42 | ↓ | |
| Franklin County | C | 42 | ↓ |
See the full interactive map
County grades, scores, and ordinance data are also available on the interactive county map with filtering by grade, state, and risk factor.
Open the county map →About SitePath scoring
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.