By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — Maine Attorney General Janet Mills’ office has returned to utilities regulators a controversial rule limiting funding for state energy efficiency programs, prompting a new rulemaking process. The routine rulemaking step comes after a legislative session that generated political controversy about that specific Read More
Efficiency Maine
Lawmakers Unanimously Override LePage Veto of Efficiency Maine Funding Bill
The proposal, known as the ‘missing and’ bill, fixes a clerical error made in the state’s 2013 energy law. By Steve Mistler. Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The Legislature overrode several more vetoes by Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday, including his rejection of a bill that corrects a one-word clerical error Read More
‘Typo’ Bill to Restore $38 Million to Efficiency Maine Passes through Legislature
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill that seeks to fix what has been widely described as a $38 million typo in a 2013 energy bill is en route to Gov. Paul LePage, who has indicated he won’t support it. LD 1215, which was sponsored by Assistant Read More
Maine Legislature Gives Final Approval to Efficiency Bill to Fix the “And” (LD 1215)
Senate Approves Bill Unanimously, Under the Hammer Sending it to the Governor’s Desk Statement of Dylan Voorhees, NRCM Clean Energy Director “We applaud the Senate and the full Legislature for final passage of this simple bill to uphold the clear legislative intent of the omnibus energy bill and save Maine people and businesses a billion Read More
70% of Maine Voters Support Proposed Bond to Reduce Heating Costs through Expanded Home Efficiency
NRCM news release Augusta, ME – As members of the Maine Legislature’s Appropriations Committee consider a variety of bond proposals to send to voters, a poll of likely voters shows fully 70% support a proposed $30 million bond to improve the energy efficiency of 30,000 Maine homes. LD 1341, sponsored by Senator Dawn Hill of Read More
NRCM Testimony in Support of LD 1341, An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Improve Maine’s Housing Stock and Reduce Heating Costs and Oil Consumption
Senator James Hamper, Chair Representative Peggy Rotundo, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations & Financial Affairs My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. There is widespread agreement that Maine should do more to lower Read More
Bill to Fix Clerical Error in Maine Energy-efficiency Law Advances
But its prospects are uncertain because of a likely veto by LePage. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A bill correcting a one-word clerical error potentially worth $38 million for an energy-efficiency program moved closer to final passage in the Legislature on Monday after weeks on the back burner. Read More
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LD 1397, An Act To Establish the Affordable Heating from Maine’s Forests Fund
Good afternoon Senator Woodsome, Representative Dion, and members of the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee. My name is Eliza Donoghue and I am the North Woods Policy Advocate for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I am speaking to you today on behalf of our 16,000 members and supporters in strong opposition to LD 1397, Read More
Partisan Struggle Over Maine Energy Policy Persists
by Scott Thistle, Sun Journal Sun Journal news story AUGUSTA, Maine — The $38 million fallout from a missing “and” — along with a push by Republican lawmakers and Gov. Paul LePage to create a new Cabinet-level Department of Energy — highlights the ongoing struggle the state’s top policymakers face as they try to combat Read More
