“I tried to negotiate in good faith with Democrats to reach a compromise that would not add to the burden of ratepayers,” LePage wrote. “I requested that the bill include all renewables, return all renewable energy credits (RECs) to ratepayers and have a cap on the price we pay in long-term contracts. We could not reach an agreement. They are not serious about reducing the price of energy for Maine families or job creators.”

Taxes & Subsidies Maine

Pennies on the dollar are what some legislative policies cost the average ratepayer. Most people don’t worry about those pennies, but I am not one of those people. I believe that if you watch your pennies, they add up to dimes and eventually to dollars. Those pennies have added up, resulting in Maine having one of the highest electric rates in the country. The last two bills we worked on this year are classic examples of policies that, although well-intentioned, are costly and will likely do nothing to lower energy costs, never mind decrease our tax burden.

Taxes & Subsidies Energy Policy Maine

For those inclined to see the glass half full, Massachusetts has made enormous strides in reducing its carbon emissions. Coal-fired plants, the worst offenders, are dying out across the Commonwealth. Investments in energy efficiency have lowered demand. The solar panels sprouting up along the Massachusetts Turnpike are only the most visible of the new generation of green technologies feeding power into homes and businesses.

Energy Policy Quebec Maine Massachusetts

Chris O'Neil is policy director of Friends of Maine's Mountains, sees the New England Clean Energy RFP as a bid by southern New England to "turn Maine into their wind plantation." "If these wind projects are the 'heist' then the transmission project is the 'getaway car,'" he says. ... wind power "as an extravagant waste of money" that isn't worth "ruining the hills and mountains" of Maine.

General Maine

If SunEdison goes bankrupt, the company and industry experts say it won’t mean much for the wind developer’s existing projects, but it raises questions about the fate of other wind farms SunEdison has in the works.

General Maine

“We felt it was important to get it out there and let everyone know that there could be some serious problems if SunEdison goes bankrupt,” Richard McDonald, a member of the steering committee for the Moosehead Region Futures Committee, said Thursday. ...Withdrawing from the zone isn’t a guarantee that a wind project won’t or can’t be built, but it makes it more difficult to get them approved, said McDonald.

Impact on Landscape Impact on People Zoning/Planning Maine

The Land Use Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the petitions submitted by Moosehead residents that remove 10 townships of the region's Unorganized Territories (UTs) from the expedited wind permitting area.

Impact on Landscape Zoning/Planning Maine

The Austrian energy company, WEB Windenergie, is buying a locally owned Maine industrial wind company, Pisgah LLC. The company hopes to access a guaranteed 20-year Emera Maine contract for selling energy at 9.3 cents per kilowatt-hour. ...the problem is that the fat contract is only available through a state program open to local Maine companies.

General Maine

TerraForm Global said SunEdison claimed the money would be used to finish nearly completed renewable energy projects in India. In return, TerraForm Global would receive SunEdison’s equity interests in the deals ...“SunEdison instead diverted the funds to prop up its flagging liquidity position rather than to fund the projects in India as promised,” said the lawsuit.

General Maine

A moratorium on industrial development approved by Temple residents last month is intended to give the town more time to create a comprehensive plan.

Zoning/Planning Maine

The Board of Selectmen voted 3-2 Monday evening to place an amended wind energy facility ordinance before voters June 14.

General Maine

TransCanada is looking to sell its New England power generation business, including its wind farm in western Maine and hydroelectric dams on the Connecticut River, as part of its effort to finance its $10 billion acquisition of Houston-based Columbia Pipeline Group.

General Maine

A proposed law aimed at saving the state’s ailing biomass energy plants is filled with language about electricity contracts and the benefits of renewable power, but it’s really about jobs – and who stands to lose or keep them.

Taxes & Subsidies Maine

Backers of gas generation countered that renewables are benefiting from government-backed subsidies and long-term contracts that threaten to reintroduce government-mandated integrated resource planning. ...state policies are giving renewables undue advantage and undermining conventional generators’ investments in the market.

Energy Policy Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island Vermont

The Board of Selectmen voted Monday evening to table finalizing a wind energy ordinance draft to put before voters in June until its March 28 meeting.

Zoning/Planning Maine

The seven local owners of the $26 million Pisgah Mountain LLC wind farm have entered a partnership with a Canadian renewable energy company that helped purchase the five turbines to be installed on the mountain this year, developer Paul Fuller said Monday.

General Maine

Maine was originally part of Massachusetts, and we act like we are still, but I would admonish Maine residents to rise up and show the wind developers the door. Let them try constructing these useless monstrosities in the Berkshires and see how far they get. I have yet to delineate the total crony corruption that has enabled this industrial wind disaster but here are a few nuggets to chew on.

General Maine Massachusetts

The legislative committee handling energy policy has recommended the state leave it to regulators and the courts to decide whether affiliates of Maine electric utilities can own power generation within the state.

Energy Policy Maine

The state of Maine could see more wind projects developed in the coming years after a number of new proposals have been submitted by southern New England states. 

General Maine

Townships and plantations in Maine have until June to opt out of being an “expedited permitting area” for wind development. Already there are nearly two dozen petitions that have been received ...Another 18 petitions are in circulation.

Zoning/Planning Maine