More than 2,000 Maine residents join request News release AUGUSTA, MAINE—Deeply troubled by the solar rule adopted by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) last month, large and small businesses, solar companies, workers, conservation and public health groups, and Mainers who want to install solar filed a formal “petition for reconsideration” today. They were joined Read More
Clean Energy
Clean energy improves Maine's air quality and reduces climate-changing pollution throughout the state of Maine and the greater New England region. That’s why NRCM is a steadfast advocate for state policies and initiatives that benefit Maine’s environment.
NRCM’s climate and clean energy work is focused on where we can have the greatest impact: electric vehicles, clean and renewable energy production, and greater energy efficiency.
Our clean energy work is critical to reducing Maine’s environmental problems and adverse affects to our health. Including high asthma rates, more “bad air days,” rising sea levels due to climate change that threaten coastal communities, and threats to our fall foliage, skiing, and our vital tourism-based industry.
NRCM makes certain that Maine's elected officials and other decision-makers are kept updated about leading information related to global warming pollution, clean energy technologies, and steps Maine can take to ensure clean air for generations to come.
Bill to Expand Solar Incentives in Maine Ready to Launch
Two frontrunners intend to enhance solar incentives, and could supersede recent changes from the state’s utilities commission. by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The near-term future of rooftop solar energy in Maine is likely to be decided this spring, as lawmakers consider changes to a widely criticized rule approved in January Read More
Fight for Solar Continues Despite Opposition
by Darcie Moore, Times Record Staff Times Record news story The Natural Resources Council of Maine continues to fight for solar-friendly policies at the State House, aiming to reverse a new Maine Public Utilities Commission rule that threatens the future growth of solar power in Maine. NRCM Senior Director of Advocacy Pete Didisheim said at a Read More
New Rules Expected to Slow Residential Solar Power Growth, Advocates Say
By Lauren Abbate, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Solar power advocates are concerned that new rules approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission last month, and finalized in an order Wednesday, will slow residential solar power growth in Maine. The rules reduce the credits homeowners receive under state’s net-metering policy for the excess Read More
Opposition to LD 532, An Act to Remove the 100-megawatt Limit on Hydroelectric Generators under the on Renewable Resources Laws
Senator David Woodsome, Chair Representative Seth Berry, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Thank you for allowing me to present this testimony. NRCM has been a steady supporter of Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard Read More
Charts: Maine’s Renewable Energy Production Surges with Opening of 2 New Wind Farms
Wind farms accounted for nearly a quarter of the state’s total electricity production in December, thanks in part to the opening of the state’s largest wind farm to date in Bingham. by Christian Milne, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story In December 2016, Maine’s wind farms accounted for nearly a quarter of Maine’s total Read More
Environmental Groups to Make Hard Push to Reverse Maine’s New Solar Rules
They say the PUC’s ‘extreme’ changes, which are opposed by the governor for different reasons, will stifle industry investment and were improperly adopted. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Maine’s largest environmental organization pledged Wednesday to “pursue every opportunity” to reverse controversial solar energy rules adopted by the state Read More
PUC Finalizes Extreme Anti-solar Rules
NRCM Prepared to Fight to Overturn Them in the Legislature Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Climate and Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC’s) new net metering rules include some of the most extreme anti-solar elements in the nation. They would roll back solar net metering, destroying good Maine Read More
PUC’s Mishandling of Solar Rules Will Hurt Industry, Utilities and Ratepayers
They create solar disincentives that in the long term will undermine the public’s ability to benefit from private investments in solar and battery storage. by Vaughan Woodruff, president of Insource Renewables in Pittsfield and chair of the Committee on Renewable Energy, the trade association for Maine-based solar contractors Portland Press Herald op-ed PITTSFIELD — The Read More