Sun-generated electricity reached a level that actually shifted peak energy demand away from the usual midmorning, showing solar’s growing role on the region’s electric grid. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story On last month’s historically cold Thanksgiving Day, New England turkeys were being roasted by the sun. For the first time, Read More
Clean Energy
Large Maine Solar Producers Win Exemption from Costly Meter Installations
Regulators saw little benefit to ratepayers from a requirement that companies with large solar arrays pay to have expensive meters installed. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Clean-energy advocates won a partial victory Wednesday when the Maine Public Utilities Commission agreed to exempt large electric customers from a recent regulatory policy that Read More
Maine Regulators Partially Undo Controversial Solar Metering Rule
By Fred Bever Maine Public news story Listen to full news story. State regulators are partially unwinding what they had hoped was a solution to inequities in the way solar power users are compensated for excess electricity they supply to the grid. Last year, after several legislative attempts to reform the state’s solar rules were Read More
Maine PUC Stops Tax on Medium & Large Customers Using Their Own Solar Power
Determines “gross metering” costs ratepayers too much NRCM News Release Today the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted a petition from Insource Renewables to suspend so-called “gross metering” for medium and large electricity users, citing excessive costs to all ratepayers to implement the policy. “Gross metering” was adopted by the PUC two years ago to Read More
Maine’s Solar Policy is More Costly than Expected. Lawmakers Can Lessen This Cost.
By Vaughan Woodruff, founder of Insource Renewables. He lives with his family in Pittsfield. Bangor Daily News op-ed During the past eight years, solar policy in Maine has been a polarizing topic in Augusta. Entering Gov. Paul LePage’s first term, solar rebates were available for residents and business owners. The state’s net metering policy, which requires Read More
Bangor OKs $8,600 Study to Look into Solar Power on City Property
By Charles Eichacker, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Bangor city councilors have agreed to spend $8,600 to study how much it would cost the city to build and operate solar arrays on municipal properties, as well as what energy savings would come from those investments. At a meeting on Monday night, the council’s Read More
Electricity Customers Paying Through the Nose Due to New PUC Rules, Say Solar Installers
by Andy O’Brien Free Press news story A Pittsfield-based solar installer is asking the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to exempt certain solar customers from its new gross metering rules citing the high cost of installing new mandatory meters. In the PUC filing, Vaughan Woodruff, owner of Insource Renewables, argues that the PUC’s rules for Read More
Landfill Solar Panels to Cover 95 Percent of Maine Town’s Electricity Needs
By Ralph Morang, Portsmouth Herald Bangor Daily News news story ELIOT, Maine — Dark skies and cold rain Monday morning did not hinder the progress of work on Eliot’s newest solar array. Trucks poured concrete into ballasts that will support 384 345-watt photovoltaic solar panels in three ranks at the town’s former landfill next to Read More
Solar Suit Aims to Put Maine Back on Track
A delivery charge for electricity that does not have to be delivered is a backward policy. By The Editorial Board Central Maine newspapers editorial With every technological advance, solar energy becomes less expensive and a more attractive as an investment. Except in Maine, where the Public Utilities Commission has developed policy to fight progress. While Read More
