Lawmakers slam the state Public Utilities Commission for not considering ‘legislator intent’ in a decision that will cut funding for the energy efficiency program. By Kevin Miller and Steve Mistler, Staff Writers Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — One missing word in the Legislature’s 2013 energy law will reduce funding for energy efficiency programs Read More
Public Utilities Commission
Maine Regulators Slash Cap on Spending for Energy Efficiency Programs
The PUC cuts Efficiency Maine’s funding from $60 million to $22 million, a decision that many think will raise electricity bills by shrinking weatherization and heating-system programs. By Dennis Hoey. Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Maine Public Utilities Commission voted 2-1 Tuesday to restrict funding for energy efficiency programs, drawing harsh criticism Read More
Maine PUC Votes to Limit Energy Efficiency Savings for Maine Residents and Businesses
LePage Appointees Vote to Ignore and Subvert Legislative Intent News release Augusta, ME – In a surprising and unfortunate development, Mainers will be paying higher electric bills because the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today voted (2-1) to severely limit funding for energy efficiency programs that reduce electricity costs for Maine homes and businesses, despite Read More
Maine PUC’s Solar Power Study Released Today Shows Enormous Benefits
Rooftop Solar Power Delivers More Value Than Electricity Derived From Power Plants News Release Augusta, ME – The Maine Public Utilities Commission has released a study that gives a quantitative value for solar power produced in Maine. The study was in response to legislation passed last year. It focused on “distributed” solar, meaning solar that is Read More
Getting Down to Business on Climate Change
by Bonnie Frye Hemphill Friday morning, June 6, was a big day for Maine’s growing clean economy. Some 200 Portland-area business and community leaders gathered to celebrate Maine’s climate progress with the decade-old Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and now, to celebrate brand-new U.S. EPA carbon pollution standards that ask the rest of the country’s Read More
Solar Energy Bill Becomes Law without Governor’s Signature
Marking an Important Step for Maine Energy Policy Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Project Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Governor LePage has allowed a solar energy bill that passed through the Legislature with overwhelming support to become law without his signature. This is good news for our economy, clean air, and Maine’s efforts 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
Maine’s Transmission Settlement is a Better Path Toward More Efficiency, Clean Energy, and Reliability
NRCM Statement Today the Maine Public Utilities Commission gave preliminary approval to a settlement agreement regarding Central Maine Power’s (CMP) large transmission reliability proposal (entitled the Maine Power Reliability Project.) The Natural Resources Council of Maine has been an intervener in this case over the last two years. NRCM believes this settlement puts Maine on Read More
