With the gasoline era coming to a close, how can a rural, aging and economically challenged state navigate a path to electrified transportation?
Energy
Building a renewable future poses daunting task for Maine
To achieve the legislated goal of decarbonizing Maine by 2050, the state must dramatically expand renewable power generation and transmission. Overcoming negative public opinion in the wake of the Hydro-Quebec corridor debate is just one obstacle in the way.
CMP, Avangrid spent dark money to drum up support for controversial power corridor on top of record-breaking $11.3M public campaign
A lawyer for the dark money conduit, Mainers for Clean Energy Jobs, said the financial ties between it and the utility would have been disclosed by Sept. 7 under new ethics guidelines. But now that the referendum is off the ballot, the extent of those connections will go unreported.
Green bank could help Maine turn tide on fossil fuel dependency
Maine is looking to successful financing models in other states as it seeks ways to fund a statewide energy overhaul and climate adaptation measures.
6,000 Maine solar projects remain in limbo due to uncertainty over federal decision on net metering petition
More than 57,000 organizations and individuals formally opposed a recently filed petition that would remove Maine’s ability to set solar credit standards and shift control to the federal government. The change would impact thousands of Mainers who have already committed to solar projects.
Petition threatens to derail solar incentives across New England
Filed while the solar industry is reeling from the economic impacts of the coronavirus and state governments are focused on the pandemic, the petition could roll back net metering and unravel one of Gov. Mills’ key efforts to boost clean energy in Maine.
The $132M electricity rip-off
Private electricity suppliers, which promised rates lower than the government-set default, instead cost Mainers an extra $132 million over seven years.
Power Play: Reimagining electric transmission in Maine
Electric utilities everywhere are re-examining antiquated ways of operating as users demand cleaner, cheaper, more reliable energy sources – in Maine, that could mean creating a consumer-driven utility.
Follow-Up: Legislature launches inquiry into Maine PowerOptions program
The Legislature’s investigative arm launched a preliminary inquiry of the state-sponsored Maine PowerOptions electricity program Feb. 17, a month after a story by the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting raised questions about the group’s transparency, oversight and benefits for its members.
Follow-Up: Legislative committee questions electricity program staff
For the first time in 16 years, staff of Maine PowerOptions appeared before lawmakers Feb. 2 to explain how the quasi-state electricity consortium brings together hundreds of municipalities and school districts across the state to help them buy power.
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