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 strong opposition to LD 101, An Act to Prohibit Offshore Wind Energy Development. OSW Key to Maine’s Read More
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Mills Signs Executive Order Reversing LePage Moratorium on Wind Energy Permits
The governor’s order opens the door for state agencies to issue permits that were put in limbo under her predecessor. By Scott Thistle, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Janet Mills has signed an executive order effectively ending a moratorium on wind turbine permits issued by her predecessor, Gov. Paul LePage. Read More
Public Hearing Set on Roxbury Wind Project
By Bruce Farrin, Rumford Falls Times Sun Journal news story ROXBURY — Roxwind LLC has submitted a permit application to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for the Roxwind Project on North Twin Mountain. The project would produce 15.2 megawatts of power and include access roads and overhead and underground collection lines. Board of Selectmen Read More
Start Listening, Folks: All-out Effort Needed to Prevent Climate Disaster
Our nation has made dramatic societal transformations in short periods of time when a dire situation, like global warming, has called for it. By Joe Hardy of Wells, a retired environmental educator, consultant and mediator Portland Press Herald op-ed WELLS — The recent report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was stunning in Read More
As Maine Reconsiders Offshore Wind Terms, Some Say Credibility Being Hurt
by Bill Opalka Energy News Network news story The backers of a two-turbine test project say they were blindsided by a recent decision to reopen terms of four-year-old contract. A move by Maine officials to rewrite terms of an offshore wind deal will delay a long-awaited demonstration project and further hurt the state’s credibility with clean Read More
Judge Tosses Challenge of Order Halting Wind Turbines
by Marina Villeneuve, The Associated Press Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — A judge has tossed a legal challenge of Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s executive order halting wind turbine permits in parts of Maine, while leaving the door open to revisit the topic. Superior Court Justice Andrew Horton said in his decision Friday Read More
Gov. LePage Set Up Wind-Farm Review Panel to Meet in Private. Now, the Names of its Members are Secret.
The governor’s energy director says the 14 members of the advisory panel will be identified once the body is prepared to meet. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Gov. Paul LePage’s administration is refusing to identify the members of a public commission charged with reviewing the impact of wind farms on Read More
Maine Regulators Carry Out LePage’s Shortsighted Energy Agenda
The state needs a governor with the vision and patience to build an ocean wind industry. The Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial It’s too soon to know the identity of Maine’s next governor, but the one we’ve got now just gave us all a good reminder of why we need a change. The three Read More
Regulator Deals Blow to UMaine Offshore Wind Project
by Bill Trotter, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story In a move seen as a major setback for a pilot offshore wind project under development by the University of Maine, state regulators voted Tuesday to reconsider the contract terms by which Central Maine Power agreed to purchase electricity from the project. The Public Utilities Read More