FREEPORT — Assistant House Majority Leader Sara Gideon is being honored by Maine Audubon as a 2016 Environmental Champion for her work on a bipartisan comprehensive solar measure. Gideon, D-Freeport, played a pivotal role in advancing the bill, LD 1649, to create a comprehensive solar policy for the state. Maine is the only New England state without one and is also in the region’s last place for solar development and job creation.

“Supporting Maine’s homegrown solar industry is an incredible opportunity to protect our environment, grow our clean energy economy and create good-paying jobs of the future,” said Gideon. “I thank Maine Audubon for its support and for highlighting the incredible efforts of the broad coalition that has come together to support forward thinking energy policy for our state.”

Gideon sponsored legislation last year that brought together a broad group of stakeholders who created the framework for the policy in LD 1649. She also led negotiations on LD 1649 this year. According to Maine Audubon, the bill would have created 650 new jobs by growing new solar markets, protected 300 existing jobs, increased installation tenfold and created between $58 million and $110 million in ratepayer savings The House fell three votes short of overriding the governor’s veto of the bill.