Senator Lawrence, Representative Berry, and distinguished members of the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee. My name is David Costello. I am the Climate and Clean Energy Program Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I am testifying today in support of LD 709, A Resolve to Provide a Brief Moratorium on Certain New Net Energy Read More
electricity costs
Solar for Maine Provides New Jobs and Savings on Electricity Bills
A new study (PDF) released this week by the consulting firm Daymark Energy Advisors shows that the increase in local solar energy projects encouraged by Maine’s Net Energy Billing (NEB) program has already generated significant benefits to Maine people and businesses, and is on track to drive hundreds of millions more in new investment in Read More
In Support of LD 1750, “An Act to Establish Appliance Energy and Water Standards”
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and other members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, my name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Climate and Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM strongly supports this bill as an extremely cost-effective way to lower utility bills for consumers, reduce waste and Read More
Bipartisan Bill Would Accelerate Investment in Solar Energy Across Maine
News release May 16, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – For the last five years Maine has ranked last in New England for solar energy generation and number of solar jobs per capita. A new bipartisan bill that received a public hearing today aims to reverse that trend by accelerating the development of more than 400 megawatts Read More
Solar Array Proposed in Oxford
Town could see financial rewards in energy credits. By Leslie H. Dixon Advertiser Democrat/ Lewiston Sun Journal news story View graphics from news story. OXFORD — Nearly 40 acres of land off Route 26 near the Oxford County Regional Airport may be developed as a solar array – one of the largest solar energy facilities Read More
A Small Maine City has Begun Reaping Serious Benefits from Its Solar Power Push
By Abigail Curtis, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story On an otherwise unremarkable day last December, something powerful happened in the city of Belfast. That was when the city’s new 4-acre solar installation went online at the site of the still-under-construction public works facility off Crocker Road. And when it did, the 660-kilowatt project Read More
LED Light Conversion Could Save Caribou Nearly $100,000 Annually
by Christopher Bouchard, Aroostook Republican & News Bangor Daily News story CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou City Manager Dennis Marker updated councilors on Feb. 11 about the results of an Investment Grade Audit report concerning the potential conversion of Caribou street lights to more efficient and less expensive LED. Marker said the IGA report indicates that Read More
Costly Infrastructure is Driving Up Maine’s Electricity Costs
By Barry Hobbins and Ken Fletcher, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed High energy costs are a challenge for Maine residents and businesses. We can tell you from our daily interactions with colleagues that there is increased frustration with electric utilities on issues ranging from storm response costs to the effectiveness of so-called Read More
Lawmakers Have One More Chance to Fix Nonsensical Solar Rules
Bangor Daily News editorial Maine lawmakers again have the chance to fix unnecessary rules that will hamper the development of solar and other alternative, clean energy in Maine and will also needlessly cost Mainers millions of dollars. In 2016, the Legislature passed a bipartisan bill to update the state’s rules around solar power generation. LePage Read More
