AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers are examining a bill that would remove the state’s megawatt wind energy targets and replace them with goals to expand economic opportunities and lower electricity costs through wind power.
The Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday on the bill introduced by Republican Rep. Lance Harvell of Farmington on behalf of Gov. Paul LePage’s administration.
His administration says the current goals are unrealistic and need to be improved to benefit Mainers.
But critics say LePage is trying to make wind development in the state more difficult.
Under the current goals, the state seeks to produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity through wind projects by 2015 and 3,000 megawatts by 2020 or enough to power about 900,000 homes. Maine currently produces about 450 megawatts with wind.
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