Senator David Woodsome, Representative Seth 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. Given the history of the policies in this bill, Read More
Public Utilities Commission
Maine Solar Advocates Win Reprieve in Advance of Lawsuit
The Maine PUC delays the start of the law to allow time to clear up confusion, extending the current power pricing that’s an incentive for rooftop installations. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story HALLOWELL — Maine’s rooftop solar installers won a four-month reprieve Tuesday when the Maine Public Utilities Commission voted Read More
Maine PUC Still Doesn’t Know How to Implement Its New Net Metering Rule
Delays Implementation Until May 1, 2018 Statement by Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Today the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) reckoned with some of the flaws in their ill-conceived and harmful net metering rollback, deciding to delay implementation by four months. This is a small victory, considering what Maine people really 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
NRCM Joins Lawsuit to Support Maine Solar Power
Joins partners in taking issue to state’s highest court News Release August 15, 2017 (PORTLAND, ME) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), along with ReVision Energy, Industrial Energy Consumer Group, and the Natural Resources Council of Maine, filed a brief today in its appeal at the Maine Supreme Court challenging the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) Read More
Maine Legislature Fails to Override LePage Solar Veto
Major loss for solar power, jobs, and Maine electricity customers NRCM news release Today, the Maine House of Representatives voted to sustain Governor LePage’s veto of the solar bill, despite the fact that the bill passed the House and Senate initially by more than a two-thirds super majority. Seven Republican legislators changed their position from Read More
Solar Bill Could Help Mainers Facing Some of Nation’s Highest Utility Rates
A bill up for vote this week means the PUC could ensure wise use of solar, despite CMP’s cockeyed arguments otherwise. by Tony Buxton, special to the Press Herald Press Herald op-ed If the Legislature passed a law making you pay your grocer for the vegetables you grow in your own garden, you would be Read More
Time for Lawmakers to Override Solar Veto
A modest change to the way power producers are paid is what an industry needs to expand. Portland Press Herald editorial board The Legislature is supposed to be long gone by the time the summer heat has Mainers turning on their air conditioners, creating the year’s peak demand for electricity. But it’s mid-July and lawmakers Read More
More Than Two-thirds of Maine House and Senate Approve Solar Bill; Next Significant Vote Expected to be Veto Override (LD 1504, as amended)
Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Climate and Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Today, the Maine House (105-40) and Senate (29-6) voted overwhelmingly in favor of a compromise solar bill to help build a prosperous future for Maine people through encouraging clean, locally produced solar power and the good jobs it delivers. The measure Read More
