Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Today the Maine Legislature gave near unanimous support and final approval to a landmark bill that seeks to increase the use of solar energy in Maine. LD 1652 is good news for our economy, clean air, and Maine’s energy independence because it lays Read More
renewable energy
Maine Small Business Owners Urge LePage to Allow Solar Bill to Become Law
Say LD 1252 Will Strengthen Economy and Increase Jobs for Small Businesses Through Greater Investments in Solar Energy and Heat Pumps NRCM news release Augusta, ME – Small businesses gathered today to urge Governor LePage to allow a solar bill to become law, now that it has passed the Legislature with bipartisan support. More than 20 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
Collins and King Should Support New EPA Power Plant Proposals
The senators should affirm that running a business and making money aren’t mutually exclusive. by Tim Soley, president of East Brown Cow Management in Portland Portland Press Herald op-ed PORTLAND — Climate change is getting expensive. As the president of East Brown Cow Management in Portland, I own and manage more than 20 properties in Read More
House Passes Bill with Rebates for Solar Panels, Heat Pumps
by Scott Thistle, State Politics Editor Sun Journal news story A bill that seeks to expand the use of photovoltaic solar panels in Maine and is funded with a fee to electric ratepayers passed the State House on Wednesday with what appears to be broad bipartisan support. Key to the support was an amendment to Read More
LePage: Cut Down More Public Trees to Pay for Heating Efficiency Programs.
The governor said that heat pumps, not solar rebates, are key to the state’s energy future. By Matt Byrne, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Gov. Paul LePage and officials at the state energy office announced plans Tuesday to increase logging on public lands and use the new revenue to help Mainers convert inefficient Read More
LePage: Harvest More Timber to Lower Heating Bills
by A.J. Higgins MPBN news story Gov. Paul LePage will submit a bill to the Legislature this week that, if approved, would pump more money into a home heating conversion fund. He would pay for it by increasing the timber harvest limits on state-owned land. But critics of the plan say that’s an improper use Read More
