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
solar
Powerful Interests Shaping Fate of Maine’s Solar Industry
by Fred Bever Maine Public news story The future of solar power in Maine is once again up for grabs in the state Legislature. And powerful interests from Maine and around the country are trying to shape the outcome. Fortunat Mueller is not a fan of a decision on solar energy that the Maine Public Read More
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 Lawmakers Put Biomass On Hold; Solar Inches Forward
Public News Service news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Faced with key decisions on the best way to proceed on energy sources for Maine, state legislators have put off a bill to promote biomass, and moved forward on a measure to support solar power. Dylan Voorhees, climate and clean energy director with the Natural Resources Council 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
Rural Maine Can’t Wait for Solar Energy
By Jason Tessier, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed A critical first step toward building Maine’s next generation economy is passing effective solar energy policy during this legislative session. Solar power expansion goes hand in hand with job growth, energy independence, lower energy costs and reduced carbon emissions. Maine legislators such as Democratic Read More
Kennebunk Utility Inks 20-year Deal to Build Solar Energy Array
By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story KENNEBUNK, Maine — The local utility Kennebunk Power and Light has signed a 20-year deal that’s designed to support construction of one of the state’s largest solar arrays in operation. The local utility district announced in a statement dated last week that it signed the Read More
Rooftop Solar Bill Advances, but Republican Opposition Foreshadows Fight
The measure endorsed by the Legislature’s energy committee calls for a cost-benefit analysis of how utilities pay homeowners and small businesses for the electricity they generate. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A bill that would keep current financial incentives for rooftop solar in place pending a cost-benefit study Read More
Legislature’s Energy Committee Passes Two Solar Bills after House Republicans Abandon Their Own Amendment
One bill directs PUC to amend extreme net metering rule, the other boosts large solar for businesses, communities Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Today, the Maine Legislature’s Energy and Utilities Committee passed two bills: one directs PUC to amend extreme net metering rule, the other boosts large solar Read More
