Joins partners in taking issue to state’s highest court News Release August 15, 2017 (PORTLAND, ME) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), along with ReVision Energy, Industrial Energy Consumer Group, and Natural Resources Council of Maine, filed a brief today in its appeal at the Maine Supreme Court challenging the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) amended… Continue Reading
State House Watch
Maine Aims to Use $21 Million VW Settlement to Improve Air Quality
MDOT is seeking public input on its website and plans to hold at least 2 public meetings. by Peter McGuire, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The state is taking public comment on its plan to spend $21 million to reduce harmful vehicle emissions as part of a federal legal settlement with Volkswagen over… Continue Reading
In Legislature, Solar Bill Met a More Powerful Foe: Doubt
Blindsided by a late question of constitutionality, backers see an effort to preserve incentives undone by seeds of confusion. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Solar advocates spent months promoting the benefits of rooftop installations, developing details on topics ranging from job growth to lower electric rates. They thought they had… Continue Reading
Maine Lawmakers Pull Plug on Bill to Maintain Solar Incentives
The governor’s veto is narrowly sustained amid warnings that L.D. 1504 would raise electricity prices, leaving a plan to phase out financial inducements for rooftop panels in effect. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Legislature heeded warnings from Maine’s largest utility company about higher electric rates Wednesday and narrowly sustained… Continue Reading
Solar Proposal Remains the Best Path Forward for Maine
Legislators should override the veto of a bill that would benefit utilities, consumers and the solar industry. by the Portland Press Herald Editorial Board The solar energy bill that lawmakers will vote on Wednesday is the same one they passed by wide margins in June – 105-41 in the House and 29-6 in the Senate…. Continue Reading
Let Solar Energy Empower Ratepayers, Not Utility
Central Maine Power is using distorted figures to scare the public into opposing L.D. 1504. by Senator Tom Saviello, fourth-term Republican state senator from Wilton and chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee Portland Press Herald op-ed AUGUSTA — In the last few months you have heard all about my solar bill, L.D. 1504,… Continue Reading
Lawmakers Need to Override LePage Veto to Avert Disastrous Solar Rules
By Vaughan Woodruff, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed This week, legislators will decide whether to override the governor’s veto of LD 1504, an extremely modest bill that aims to remove a uniformly disliked provision of new solar rules slated to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. While solar policy discussions in… Continue Reading
Time for Lawmakers to Override Solar Veto
A modest change to the way power producers are paid is what an industry needs to expand. Portland Press Herald editorial board The Legislature is supposed to be long gone by the time the summer heat has Mainers turning on their air conditioners, creating the year’s peak demand for electricity. But it’s mid-July and lawmakers… Continue Reading
Water Bond Package was Good for Maine in 2015, and It’s Even Better Now
What’s not to like about clean water, 3,000 jobs and new systems – not to mention the ability to leverage federal funds? by Kate Dempsey, Matt Marks, and Matt Timberlake Portland Press Herald op-ed On Monday, Maine legislative leaders have a significant opportunity to create or sustain 3,000 jobs, protect clean water, support our river… Continue Reading
