by the Associated Press
PORTLAND – The Public Utilities Commission marked the sale Thursday of the millionth compact fluorescent light under a state incentive program to promote the use of the energy saving bulbs and curb demand for electricity.
Justine Carlisle of South Portland bought the millionth CFL at Maine Hardware, where PUC Chairman Kurt Adams lauded the success of his agency’s Efficiency Maine program that offers $1.50 coupons for such purchases.
One million CFLs in Maine homes represent a savings of more than $46 million in electricity costs and the elimination of 194,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the PUC said.
“Hitting the 1 millionth mark is an incredible accomplishment for Efficiency Maine,” Adams said. “The savings realized by 1 million bulbs will keep demand growth for electricity down and subsequently help keep electricity prices in check.”>/p>
He said the 1 million mark is just the beginning, and the PUC “won’t stop working on this project until every Maine home has replaced their old incandescent bulbs with better, more efficient CFLs.”>/p>
