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
electricity costs
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
Opposition to LD 1632, An Act to Establish the Manufacturing Jobs Energy Program
Senator Woodsome, Representative Berry, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology, my name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. NRCM supports the development of policies that increase availability of Read More
Aggressive Caps on Carbon Emissions Would Benefit Regional Greenhouse Gas Efforts
The program has missed opportunities to do more for the environment, energy efficiency and the economy. by Tom Tietenberg of Waterville is the Mitchell Family Professor of Economics Emeritus at Colby College Portland Press Herald op-ed WATERVILLE — One of the unsung heroes in Maine’s drive to prepare our homes and businesses for a secure Read More
Maine’s Disastrous New Solar Rules Violate Our Right to Energy Independence
By Seth Berry, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed It’s shocking, but true. Thanks to the actions of a self-proclaimed anti-tax governor, Maine is about to become the first state where electric companies can charge fees for the energy you make and use at your own home or business. This will likely reduce your Read More
St. Agatha Farm Prepares to Go Solar in a Big Way
By Julia Bayly, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story ST. AGATHA, Maine — It’s not much to look at right now, just 20 giant poles stuck in the ground in the middle of a northern Maine field, but to Keith LaBrie, it’s money in the bank. By next summer the poles will each support Read More
Maine AG Kicks Energy Efficiency “And” Rule Back to Regulators
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
