Have you received multiple offers to sign up for solar and save money on your electric bill? Do you wonder if these offers are legitimate? Where’s the catch? How do these work? People are asking these questions, so I did a little research. Here’s what I found out. There are two ways to engage in community Read More
Public Utilities Commission
Code Red for the Climate Demands New Behavior by CMP
On the same day that the Portland Press Herald reported about an alarming new climate study that has been called “code red for humanity,” it also carried a front-page story about Central Maine Power’s (CMP) continued failure to help solar energy projects connect with the electrical grid as part of Maine’s response to climate change. The contrast could not be Read More
Maine’s Utility Regulators Have a New Mandate to Act on Climate Change
Against the backdrop of a highly productive legislative session for Maine’s environment earlier this year, one new law could prove to be extremely important to Maine’s efforts to address climate change. The bill, LD 1682, expands the responsibility of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to include reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Governor’s Energy Office and Read More
Support of LD 1682, An Act to Require Consideration of Climate and Equity Impacts by the Public Utilities Commission
Senator Lawrence, Representative Berry, and distinguished members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. My name is David Costello. I am the Climate and Clean Energy Program Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I am testifying today in support of LD 1682, An Act to Require Consideration of Climate and Equity Read More
Support of LD 1350, An Act to Expand Maine’s Clean Energy Economy
Senator Lawrence, Representative Berry, and distinguished members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. My name is David Costello. I am the Climate and Clean Energy Program Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I am testifying today in support of LD 1350, An Act to Expand Maine’s Clean Energy Economy. Clean Energy Transition Vital Strengthening Read More
Opposition to LD 249 and LD 583, Bills Related to Net Energy Billing Policy
Opposition to LD 249, An Act to Eliminate the Current Net Energy Billing Policy in Maine and LD 583, An Act to Repeal the Changes Made by Public Law 2019, Chapter 478, An Act to Promote Solar Energy Projects and Distributed Generation Resources in Maine Senator Lawrence, Representative Berry, and distinguished members of the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee. My Read More
Solar for Maine Provides New Jobs and Savings on Electricity Bills
A new study (PDF) released this week by the consulting firm Daymark Energy Advisors shows that the increase in local solar energy projects encouraged by Maine’s Net Energy Billing (NEB) program has already generated significant benefits to Maine people and businesses, and is on track to drive hundreds of millions more in new investment in Read More
US Army Corps & Dept. of Energy Identify Major Issues with CMP Corridor
Agencies call out lack of evidence on climate claims even as they coach CMP how to write its own Environmental Assessment August 13, 2020 (Augusta, ME) – A new document obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) shows that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have Read More
A Victory for Energy Consumers and Climate Action
NRCM statement The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today completely rejected a proposal that would have benefited Central Maine Power (CMP) by doubling the fixed monthly charges for residential and small business customers over the next four years. The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) has been a party to this lengthy case because increased Read More
