Heat pumps sold so fast in Maine, the state just upped its target

A state that braves some of the most frigid winters in the country has not only enthusiastically adopted heat pumps — it’s also stepping up its commitment to the clean-heating tech.

In 2019, Maine embraced heat pumps as part of its climate strategy, setting a goal to install 100,000 of the machines by 2025.

But a few days ago, Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) announced that the state had surpassed that target two years ahead of schedule, deploying at least 104,000 heat pumps in homes and businesses. Now, the state has set a new goal: installing another 175,000 heat pumps by 2027.

“We are setting an example for the nation,” said Mills at the announcement event. ​“Our transition to heat pumps is creating good-paying jobs, curbing our reliance on fossil fuels, and cutting costs for Maine families, all while making them more comfortable in their homes — a hat trick for our state.”

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Electric heat pumps, which are essentially reversible air conditioners, can be two to four times as efficient as gas furnaces. They’re key to decarbonizing home heating: A recent analysis by climate think tank RMI found that heat pumps can generate less than a tenth of the emissions of gas furnaces over their lifetime, depending on the state. (Canary Media is an independent affiliate of RMI.)

But even as heat pumps leapfrog gas furnaces in popularity, the pervasive myth that they don’t work in cold climates may still be holding back adoption. Maine’s success with the tech provides yet more evidence that heat pumps can help eliminate fossil-fueled heating everywhere — not just in the states with warmer winters.

That’s good news, because heat pumps need to rapidly expand to all corners of the U.S. if the country is to reach its net-zero goal by 2050. To stay on track, contractors will have to sell 5.4 million heat-pump systems in the U.S. by 2027, according to electrification advocacy nonprofit Rewiring America. Inflation Reduction Act incentives could help make this a reality, but those subsidies will only work if building owners and installers believe that heat pumps are reliable.

Maine’s new target will aim to install heat pumps in 1,000 to 2,500 businesses and 60,000 to 70,000 homes, according to Efficiency Maine, which administers heat-pump rebates for the state. A typical Maine home often requires three 12,000 Btu/​hour heat-pump units to cover its heating needs. Families can receive up to $1,200 for two installed units if those heat pumps meet specific high-efficiency criteria. American Standard, Daikin, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric and Samsung make the models that most commonly qualify for the rebates.