Senator Lawrence, Representative Zeigler, and members of the Joint Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, my name is Rebecca Schultz. I am a Senior Advocate for Climate and Clean Energy at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM has been working for more than 60 years to protect, restore, and conserve Maine’s environment, on Read More
electric grid
Integrated Grid Planning for Maine
In early February, Maine’s utility watchdog held the first in a series of public workshops, part of a new participatory approach to planning the future of Maine’s electric grid, called “integrated grid planning.” The stakes are high for Maine. If we do this poorly, utilities’ interests will continue to dominate, resulting in high costs to Read More
November 3, 2022: Zoom in with NRCM—The Future of Maine’s Electric Grid
Zoom in with NRCM: The future of Maine’s electric grid Thursday, November 3, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Maine is already building a clean energy future, with record amounts of heat pumps and solar energy being installed, and more electric vehicles than ever on our roads. Funding from the Inflation Reduction Act can help accelerate progress. In Read More
New Law Will Tie Electric Grid Planning to Maine’s Climate Goals
NRCM news release May 9, 2022 (Augusta, ME) – Electric utilities in Maine will for the first time be required to create a comprehensive plan for supporting the state’s ambitious climate and clean energy goals under a landmark bill signed into law earlier this month. Conservation groups that worked closely with lawmakers and the Mills Read More
Why Maine’s New Grid Planning Law is Good for Climate and Clean Energy
A new law passed in 2022, LD 1959, requires Maine’s utilities to undergo a transparent “integrated grid planning” process for developing a reliable electric grid that supports the transition to clean energy at the lowest possible cost. For the first time, these plans must be tied to Maine’s ambitious requirements to cut greenhouse gas emissions Read More
