Rather than support a quick fix of a typo, he and Republican House Leader Ken Fredette are trying to use a manufactured crisis to increase the governor’s power. By Mike Tipping Portland Press Herald column Gov. Paul LePage and Republican House Leader Ken Fredette have proved once again that they can’t be trusted. You might remember Read More
lower energy bills
Groups Petition PUC to Reconsider Decision on Missing “And” in Energy Bill
By MPBN staff MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine – Several environmental groups are petitioning state utility regulators to reconsider their ruling on the effect of one missing word – “and” – in the state’s omnibus energy bill. Last month in a case involving the missing word, the Maine Public Utilities Commission ruled 2 to 1 Read More
Environmentalists, Contractors Ask Maine Regulators to Redo Efficiency Cap Ruling
By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — Two conservation groups and a building contractors association have petitioned the state’s utilities regulators to reconsider a decision to set a cap on state energy efficiency funding at the the lower of two possible levels. The 2-1 decision hinged on the absence Read More
Maine Lawmakers Hear Proposals to Return Missing ‘and’ to Energy Law
by Scott Thistle, State Politics Editor Sun Journal news story AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers Wednesday took the first steps toward fixing what’s become known as a $38 million typographical error in a law that funds the state’s energy-efficiency programs. But looming over any potential fix is the less-than-subtle hint that Republican Gov. Paul LePage will Read More
Friction Surfaces Over Fixing Costly Efficiency Maine Error
Concessions and a promised veto loom over competing proposals to correct an error that could cost $38 million in energy funding. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA – Lawmakers heard four hours of testimony Wednesday on competing proposals to fix a one-word clerical error potentially worth $38 million for an Read More
Hearings on Dueling Efficiency Maine Fix-it Bills Draw Crowds
By Mal Leary MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine – Members of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee heard more than four hours of testimony on two bills aimed at fixing a one word mistake in the Omnibus Energy bill. The mistake in the bill passed last year had the effect of reducing the amount Read More
Legislators Meet to Fix Efficiency Maine Funding
WCSH-6 TV news story AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — The Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee heard testimony Wednesday on two competing bills that would restore funding to Efficiency Maine. The word “and” was left out of the 2013 law in a drafting error. That error allowed regulators to slash $38 million dollars for energy efficiency Read More
NRCM Testimony In Support of LD 1215, An Act to Provide Lower Energy Costs to Maine Businesses and Residences by Carrying Out the Legislature’s Intent Regarding Funding of the Efficiency Maine Trust
Senator David Woodsome, Chair Representative Mark Dion, Chair 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. Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. This bill restores a single word (“and”) which was omitted in Read More
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LD 1221, An Act to Enhance Energy Cost Reduction and Facilitate Heating Alternatives in Furtherance of the Omnibus Energy Act
Senator David Woodsome, Chair Representative Mark Dion, Chair 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. Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. The Omnibus energy bill was a carefully negotiated set of energy Read More
