As members of the Sumner Select Board, we support LD1373, referred to as the “Berry Bill,” which would protect and expand access by individuals and towns to solar power in the state of Maine. The bill has significant economic value for small towns, such as Sumner, and programs that would enable and encourage our town […]
solar power
Posted inLetters
A winning solution for energy
As a public school teacher and concerned citizen of Maine, I was disappointed to learn of the LePage-appointed Maine PUC commissioners’ decision to phase out net-metering for roof-top solar. According to two surveys taken in 2016, more than 60 percent of Mainers support net-metering. Contrary to what Gov. LePage purports, solar arrays, in addition to […]
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Posted inLetters
Maine could benefit from solar
The PUC’s stand on phasing out net-metering is extremely detrimental to all of those who have invested or intend to invest in solar energy. As a matter of fact, its decision is a death knell for energy in Maine. It is a very backward and biased decision. The decision will result in the loss of […]
Posted inLetters
Increasing energy independence
The state’s Energy Utilities and Technology Committee will conduct a hearing on LD 1373 — An Act to Protect and Expand Access to Solar Power in Maine — at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 4. I am glad to know my representative, Jess Fay, supports that bill. Without the passage of that bill, the solar industry […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Advocates to ask PUC to reconsider solar ruling
Solar advocates scheduled a news conference for Tuesday at the State House as the latest move in an interminable energy battle, and there are two major things at play. Democratic lawmakers plan to push two bills to preserve and boost the future of solar power incentives, according to the Portland Press Herald. But advocates are […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine PUC OK rules that shift solar panel costs onto homeowners
AUGUSTA — State utility regulators are changing Maine’s solar energy rules despite pushback from solar groups. Owners of solar energy grids get credits on their energy bill for the energy they send back to the system. But critics, including GOP Gov. Paul LePage, say the current system means electricity customers are unfairly subsidizing the solar […]
Posted inLetters
Solar power not the answer
I support Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of the poor solar power legislation. Maine recently announced it has risen to 21st among states when it comes to solar capacity per capita (watts/person). Nevada is No. 1 at 429 watts/person; Hawaii is No.2 at 394; and California is No. 3 at 338. What happens in Las Vegas […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Maine would benefit from solar power
Gov. LePage’s predictable veto of the genius of home solar net-metering legislation disrespects both science and the majority vote of the Legislature. It should be overridden unanimously. Mainers who can’t afford solar will benefit in the long run, not lose money, because unlimited harvesting of solar power will make it more difficult for fossil fuel […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
LePage administration opposes solar power compromise
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s administration says a compromise that would increase Maine’s solar power capacity from about 18 megawatts to 250 megawatts over five years would hurt ratepayers. Energy office staff members tell The Portland Press Herald that the plan keeps subsidies for homeowners who install rooftop solar panels. They say they prefer a […]
Posted inLetters
In rebuttal: Energy conundrum solved
Columnist Robert Samuelson may feel he is caught in an energy conundrum, but the rest of the world is not. Samuelson’s recent column (Dec. 30) acknowledged fossil fuels are driving climate change, but concluded that we don’t have what it takes to fix it. He’s wrong. Samuelson got a lot right: that we must transition […]