Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Legislature’s bipartisan votes for the solar bill are good news for Mainers. This common sense bill will help prevent the loss of solar jobs in Maine, save money for all Maine electricity customers, and allow more Mainers to benefit from this clean, Read More
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Time for Maine Lawmakers to Lead the Transition to a Clean Energy Economy
To mitigate the impacts of climate change, we have to use clean sources of energy such as solar. By Seth Wescott, two-time Olympic gold medalist and a member of the U.S. Snowboard Team. He lives in Carrabassett Valley, co-owns The Rack and Winterstick Snowboards and is a member of the Protect Our Winters Riders Alliance. Read More
Maine is on a Disastrous Path — If It Ever Wants to Benefit from Solar Energy
Bangor Daily News editorial After lawmakers last year failed to pass legislation to update the state’s rules around solar energy sales, the Maine Public Utilities Commission has adopted rules that are unworkable, will unnecessarily cost ratepayers millions of dollars, and do nothing to encourage needed development of solar energy resources in the state. Lawmakers again Read More
Support of LD 1504, An Act Regarding Solar Power for Farms and Businesses
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 (NRCM). Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. We appreciate the effort by Senator Saviello Read More
Legislative Committee Holds Hearing on Solar Incentives
by Fred Bever Maine Public news story An overflow crowd turned out for a legislative committee hearing Thursday as supporters and opponents of incentives for solar power development in Maine squared off. Earlier this year state regulators adopted a new version of solar power rules that would gradually reduce existing incentives for the installation of Read More
Support of LD 1373, An Act to Expand and Protect Access to Solar Power in Maine
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 (NRCM). Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. We strongly support this bill, which will increase Maine’s energy Read More
Maine People, Businesses, Workers, Town Leaders Rally and Testify to Support Solar Bill
News release Augusta, ME – Hundreds of proponents of solar power gathered at the State House today to call on lawmakers to pass legislation this year to move Maine forward on solar power and prevent rollbacks by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Many will testify at a public hearing this afternoon in favor of An Read More
Backers Tout Bill Opposed by LePage, CMP to Allow More Community Solar Farms
The measure would lift restrictions on current large-scale solar projects, and set new power goals. by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A parade of proponents turned out Thursday at a public hearing for a bill that would greatly expand community solar farms in Maine. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. David Read More
Fixing Maine’s Solar Policy
by Peter Simmons of Brunswick Times Record op-ed The ongoing dispute between Governor LePage and solar advocates over energy policy deserves serious consideration and demands swift resolution. Although the Governor believes that solar power raises the cost of electricity and incentives only benefit the wealthy, a wisely designed solar policy will lower costs, result in Read More