By Brandon Doyen WABI news story HALLOWELL, Maine (WABI) – The Public Utilities Commission heard from the public in Hallowell on Tuesday on a rule the PUC proposed that would double the cost to connect solar installations to the grid. Members from the Natural Resources Council of Maine as well as businesses and homeowners that Read More
State House Watch
Working for legislation to protect Maine’s environment is an essential part of NRCM’s mission for the people of Maine. During the legislative session, we are at the Maine State House, just a block from our office, to work for new safeguards and also to defend existing legislation that protects Maine’s land, air, water, and wildlife.
Resistance to LePage’s Solar Policies Grows in Maine
Environmental groups are pushing back on both the dismantling of net metering and increased interconnection fees on solar owners, in the courts and in public hearings. by Christian Roselund PV Magazine news story Maine Governor Paul LePage was initially elected to office with less than 40% of the vote, and was largely the beneficiary of Read More
Interior Secretary Wants to Keep Maine’s Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument
Ryan Zinke is not recommending the removal of any of the 27 monuments under review but said some could be changed. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA – Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will not recommend elimination of Katahdin Woods and Waters or other national monuments in a report expected to Read More
In the End, Mainers Will Reject Regulators’ Anti-clean-energy Rule
The PUC tax on energy produced and used in the home will take effect as an election approaches. by Seth Berry Portland Press Herald op-ed AUGUSTA — Since Aug. 2, I’ve been asked many times: What happened to this year’s solar bill? And why? Despite overwhelming public support, on the last day of our legislative Read More
Groups File Brief Challenging Maine’s New Solar Rules
The filing appeals the Public Utilities Commission’s new solar rules in the wake of a failed legislative effort to sustain incentives. Portland Press Herald news story Groups opposed to Maine’s amended solar rules have joined in a brief challenging the authority and actions of the Public Utilities Commission. The Conservation Law Foundation, ReVision Energy, Industrial Read More
Fight Over Solar Power Incentives Goes to Maine Supreme Court
by Fred Bever Maine Public news story The battle over solar power’s future in Maine is moving to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court. Last month, lawmakers who support existing incentives for residential solar power generation failed to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a plan to preserve them. That means a new rule proposed by Read More
NRCM Joins Lawsuit to Support Maine Solar Power
Joins partners in taking issue to state’s highest court News Release August 15, 2017 (PORTLAND, ME) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), along with ReVision Energy, Industrial Energy Consumer Group, and the Natural Resources Council of Maine, filed a brief today in its appeal at the Maine Supreme Court challenging the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) Read More
Maine Aims to Use $21 Million VW Settlement to Improve Air Quality
MDOT is seeking public input on its website and plans to hold at least 2 public meetings. by Peter McGuire, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The state is taking public comment on its plan to spend $21 million to reduce harmful vehicle emissions as part of a federal legal settlement with Volkswagen over Read More
In Legislature, Solar Bill Met a More Powerful Foe: Doubt
Blindsided by a late question of constitutionality, backers see an effort to preserve incentives undone by seeds of confusion. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Solar advocates spent months promoting the benefits of rooftop installations, developing details on topics ranging from job growth to lower electric rates. They thought they had Read More
