The Maine Renewable Energy Association claims that Gov. LePage violated Maine’s constitutional separation of powers when he issued a moratorium on new wind turbine permits. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Maine’s wind energy industry is challenging the constitutionality of a recent LePage administration executive order imposing a moratorium Read More
renewable energy
With Smart Planning, Potential Negatives of Wind Farms Can be Mitigated
A study specific to Maine will help, but the process should be transparent, with no moratorium on new projects. by Rachel Bouvier, an environmental economist and owner of rbouvier consulting, specializing in environmental and natural resource issues. Portland Press Herald op-ed Gov. LePage’s recent announcement of a moratorium on wind farms in certain areas of the Read More
Panel on Wind Power Development Likely to Say What LePage Wants to Hear
No amount of study is going to convince the governor to reverse his strident opposition to wind generation, so why bother? by the Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial Last week Gov. LePage created a special commission to study wind power development in Maine and issue a report. This week, he told us what the Read More
Support of LD 1741, Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Study the Economic, Environmental and Energy Benefits of Energy Storage to the Maine Electricity Industry
Senator David Woodsome, Representative Seth Berry, and members of the 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. NRCM supports this legislation as a proactive approach Read More
Environmental Group Sues LePage, Says Wind Farm Ban is Unconstitutional
The Conservation Law Foundation says the governor’s action violates the constitutional separation of powers. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A regional environmental advocacy group has gone to court in an attempt to overturn a moratorium that Gov. Paul LePage imposed last week on most new wind energy projects in Maine. Read More
Wind Power Moratorium Reignites Tourism vs. Clean Energy Debate
by James McCarthy Mainebiz news story Gov. Paul R. LePage issued an executive order Wednesday putting the brakes on the state’s permitting of new onshore wind projects. In doing so, he’s renewed the longstanding debate over whether there’s greater value in Maine’s scenic mountains for tourism than for wind energy. His order also created the Read More
LePage Moves to Block Most New Maine Wind Energy Permits
By Christopher Cousins and Michael Shepherd, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday placed a moratorium on permits for most new wind turbines in Maine, a move that could reverberate regionally a day before Massachusetts is set to announce winners in a massive clean power procurement plan. Read More
LePage Blocks New Wind Energy Projects, Creates Secretive Commission to Study Impacts
The longtime critic of wind energy says he’s acting ‘to protect our natural beauty,’ and allows the new panel to craft regulatory changes without public scrutiny. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage imposed a moratorium Wednesday on new wind energy projects in western and coastal Maine Read More
NRCM Statement on LePage Wind Power Moratorium and Secret Panel
Statement by NRCM Climate and Clean Energy Director Dylan Voorhees “Today, Governor LePage told clean energy investors that Maine is ‘Not Open for Business.’ LePage placed an open-ended unilateral moratorium on development of wind power in Maine. LePage created a secret panel with enormous power to prevent wind power from being developed in Maine. He Read More