Historic legislation calls for major ramp-up of solar installations and new job creation with benefits for all customers News Release AUGUSTA – A group of solar businesses, workers, municipalities, community leaders, utilities, and other stakeholders on Thursday announced their support for historic new solar legislation that will dramatically increase installation of solar throughout Maine. The Read More
Central Maine Power
Solar Power’s Growth Calls for New System
A compromise between solar users, regulators and utilities could head off a costly fight in Maine. By The Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial There’s a battle going on between big polluters and a growing solar energy industry that is being fought in state capitals across the nation. Nevada, Hawaii, Oklahoma and other states have scaled Read More
Solar Slowly Rising in Maine
by Kathryn Skelton, Staff Writer Sun Journal news story Lewiston industrial roofer IRC installed solar panels on roofs all around New England — multimillion-dollar, multi-megawatt projects — but never converted its own headquarters to solar. Until last week. Time and price were finally right. Leaders of Saint Dominic Academy in Auburn started contemplating solar power Read More
Freeport ‘Farm’ to Harvest, Share Solar Energy
By Kate Gardner The Forecaster news story FREEPORT — A community solar farm will soon be opening for residents who can’t have solar panels at their homes. The solar farm will be at Maine Idyll Motor Court on U.S. Route 1. Construction expected to start in November. Nine shares in the farm are being sold Read More
Future of Solar Energy in Maine Still Cloudy
Disagreements persist over how generators, ratepayers and utilities may benefit from the clean power of the sun. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The tussle over the future of solar energy in Maine also is a fight over competing visions for how to develop the limitless resource. One continues the existing Read More
Maine Lawmakers Expected to Vote Thursday on Sweeping Energy Policy Bill
Policy changes proposed by the governor are intended to lower energy costs, but some provisions are opposed by clean-energy advocates and solar panel installers. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — No dramatic changes are likely this year in a state law that compensates homeowners with solar-electric panels for their Read More
CMP Seeks to Raise Rates for Solar Producers
by Susan Sharon MPBN news story The Maine Public Utilities Commission is taking public testimony tonight in Portland on a Central Maine Power Co. rate restructuring plan that critics say would discourage Mainers from investing in renewable energy and also raise fixed monthly fees on both residential and business customers. As Susan Sharon reports, several Read More
Maine Fans of Solar Power Rally Against CMP Rate Plan
Regulators are reviewing a proposal that would levy a charge for customers who generate power. By Paul Koenig Kennebec Journal news story HALLOWELL — Around two dozen solar power proponents rallied outside the Maine Public Utility Commission office Wednesday to protest proposed electricity rate changes they say will discourage individuals from investing in renewable energy Read More
CMP Needs to Cover Costs, But That Shouldn’t Stall Maine Colleges’ Renewable Energy Advances
By Robert Clark, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed A new “standby” fee proposed by Central Maine Power Co. would penalize Maine colleges and universities — including the 10 member institutions of the Maine Independent Colleges Association — and effectively create a significant disincentive for our pursuit of the economic, environmental and educational Read More
