Latest news with #NaturalResourcesCouncilofMaine
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Climate advocates caution against rolling back Maine's clean energy credit program
Clean energy advocates gathered at the State House on May 22, 2025, to ask lawmakers to invest in renewable energy projects. (Courtesy of Sierra Toomey/Natural Resources Council of Maine) While legislative committees are winding down their work for the session, the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee has yet to decide what it will do with a slew of proposals aimed at reforming or outright eliminating the state's clean energy credit program. The committee is still holding several work sessions this week on the matter, though it has voted on some of the proposals to tweak or toss the program, known as net energy bill, which many agree needs reform. Meanwhile, clean energy advocates, including representatives from the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, Maine Conservation Voters, and Maine Community Power Cooperative, gathered at the State House Thursday morning asking lawmakers to reject any attempts at rolling back or making retroactive changes to the net energy billing program. Activists, solar customers and laborers also roamed the halls talking with lawmakers about continued support for solar energy. The group also highlighted three specific measures it would like to see passed, including a proposal to develop a cabinet-level Maine Department of Energy. They are also backing a bill to codify the goal of 100% clean, renewable energy by 2040 into state law, and another proposal to establish new energy fairness and affordability standards. Multiple speakers, including Eliza Donoghue, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association, underscored the importance of considering investor confidence when contemplating changes to net energy billing 'Businesses like ours can adapt to small changes in a program, but we can't plan around uncertainty or volatility,' agreed Dale Knapp of Portland-based Waldon Renewables. 'We at least need to know the playing field.' Knapp went on to say that 'the policy signals we send right now to the industry can determine whether Maine remains a place where energy companies like ours continue to want to invest.' That investment goes beyond new energy sources, Knapp said, calling them a 'strategic investment in our economy.' For example, a 20-megwatt project his company is working on in Sanford employs 125 people and the vast majority of them live in Maine. So, he said, they are using local gas stations, grabbing lunch at local restaurants and buying supplies from local hardware stores. During the public hearings for some of the proposals, the Governor's Energy Office also cautioned the committee against proposals that would change the way people are compensated for existing projects. 'Broad retroactive modifications to the core mechanisms in determining compensation under the program as these bills propose and others will have a dramatic effect on 16,000 projects in the state, more than 114,000 customers,' said Caroline Colan, legislative liaison for the Governor's Energy Office, testifying before the committee in April. The committee has already rejected one such proposal, LD 1317, which would have adjusted the tariff rate over the next few years to eventually reach 12 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2028. Solar companies testified that such a rate would not be sufficient. Similarly, the committee killed two proposals to repeal net energy billing entirely: LD 257 and LD 450. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Environmental advocates fear EPA air quality rollbacks could particularly harm Mainers' health
As prevailing winds carry pollution from upwind power plants in other states into Maine, state data shows higher than average number of Mainers are diagnosed with asthma. (Photo by) Environmental advocates fear that cutting federal regulations meant to curb pollution and lower carbon emissions could be acutely felt in Maine. 'Bottom line, if the EPA is successful in weakening these critical environmental safeguards at the national level, then Maine would suffer harm from the air pollution and toxic pollution from upwind fossil fuel plants,' said Pete Didisheim, advocacy director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, in a news release Thursday. Didisheim is referring to the more than 30 proposals from Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to roll back environmental regulations on coal-fired power plants, water pollution, vehicle emissions and more. Specifically, it includes changes to the 'Good Neighbor' policy meant to address air pollution traveling downwind to other communities that could be particularly helpful to Maine. The changes unveiled Wednesday were framed as part of President Donald Trump's campaign promise to encourage energy production and cut regulations focused on slowing climate change. Despite the EPA's mission to 'protect human health and the environment,' these policy changes would instead prioritize the interests of fossil fuel companies, said Maine Conservation Voters Deputy Director Rani Sheaffer. 'Maine families deserve clean air and water, and corporate profits of the already wealthy shouldn't be prioritized over the health of our communities,' she said. The proposed changes won't go into effect immediately. Most of them will need to undergo a long rulemaking process that includes the opportunity for public input. Because of that, Didisheim said 'now is the time for Maine people to speak up in defense of EPA's mission.' The council fears the changes could not only harm the air, water and other natural resources that are vital to Maine's economy, but also be detrimental to public health in a state already grappling with high respiratory problems. About one in nine Mainers has asthma, which is higher than the national average, according to state data. Prevailing winds carry pollution from upwind power plants in other states into Maine, so the council is concerned that removing pollution-reducing requirements could exacerbate problems for elderly Mainers, children and those with respiratory issues. Given that geographic positioning, Didisheim said Maine could have 'the most to lose if the 'Good Neighbor Rule' is abandoned.' Before the Good Neighbor rule was adopted in 2023, the EPA estimated it could prevent 2,300 hospital and emergency room visits, as well as cut asthma symptoms by 1.3 million cases in 2026 alone by reducing air pollution. The council is also worried about backsliding on pollution standards for power plants, particularly the proposal to overturn the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants. 'These common-sense rules are on track to deliver overwhelmingly positive outcomes for the nation, including preventing premature deaths, reducing hospital visits, and eliminating toxic mercury pollution that threatens public health and pollutes our waters and wildlife,' Didisheim said. The EPA projected the updated standards could have eliminated 1,000 pounds of mercury and 65,000 tons of carbon dioxide — the equivalent of a gas-powered car driving more than 150 million miles — in 2028. Mercury pollution from upwind power plants has been a concern for Maine over the past few decades, the council said. Maine fish, loons and eagles have some of the highest mercury levels in North America, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The state has recommended pregnant women, women of childbearing age and young children limit their fish consumption since 1994 because of persistently high mercury levels. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republicans push to end Maine solar subsidies but key lawmaker says it's unlikely
Feb. 28—Republicans in the Legislature on Thursday urged the repeal of solar and other clean energy subsidies they say are driving up the cost of electricity for Mainers while supporters of the so-called net energy billing program say it cost effectively advances zero-emissions energy. "A job-killing solar tax. That is what many companies across our state are calling Maine's solar development subsidy program, otherwise known as net energy billing," Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Penobscot, a sponsor of one of four bills to end the program, told the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Her constituents and other residents and businesses in Maine "are already having a hard time keeping the lights on," she said. "They cannot afford the increases to their electric bills caused by this solar tax." However, the committee's top Republican said it's unlikely majority Democrats will agree to repeal the net energy billing program and may instead agree to compromise legislation. Rebecca Schultz, senior advocate for climate and clean energy at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said the Republican legislation would end rooftop solar, barring the technology to individuals and households. The "biggest culprits behind rising electricity bills are fossil fuels and the climate change impacts they are causing — not solar energy," she told lawmakers. Significant rate increases since 2021 have been the result of volatile natural gas prices, Schultz said. Costs to recover from storms also is a significant factor driving up CMP bills, amounting to $220 million for storms in 2022 and 2023, adding $10.29 to monthly bills. The cost of net energy billing does not account for benefits such as a pullback in demand for fossil fuel supply, less strain on utilities' transmission and distribution systems and reduced pollution, Schultz said. The debate in Augusta over solar subsidies and net energy billing is not new. Net energy billing is intended to encourage renewable power generation, providing generators with credit for renewable power they produce and send to the electric grid. Before 2019, eligibility was restricted to small generators, reflecting opposition from then-Gov. Paul LePage and many Republican lawmakers. The rules changed in 2019, following the election of Gov. Janet Mills and fellow Democrats in the Legislature. One provision directed utilities to buy power at fixed rates from larger solar projects with up to 5 megawatts of capacity. In 2023, state law limited project size again, changed the formula for subsidies and reduced the eligibility for participating commercial and industrial projects. The most recent uproar — the hours-long legislative hearing drew an overflow crowd drawing scores of speakers on both sides of the issue — was at least partly due to skyrocketing electricity bills for some manufacturers and other businesses. The Public Utilities Commission is again looking into how much of a power bill should be used to incentivize renewable energy projects. Manufacturers, policymakers, utilities and others agree that Maine must add more solar and wind energy to reach targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Disagreements focus on how to apportion the cost. Jason Woollard, an Aroostook County potato grower who farms 15,000 acres of crops in a family business dating to 1886, told lawmakers his business added a potato processing plant in the last few years. Net energy billing policies "are killing our business," he said, with a $690,000-a- year bill for electricity as part of a public policy charge. "Our competitors don't have to pay that," he said. Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, said net energy billing represents a little more than 6% of monthly electricity bills. In addition, he said, solar projects have limited cost increases in larger components of electricity costs, such as supply that accounts for the kilowatt-hour rate and the amount of electricity a customer uses. "I'm curious why we would prioritize the smallest component that actually has an impact on reducing the big components as opposed to looking at the big components," Runte said. The Governor's Energy Office opposes repeal legislation, telling lawmakers that net energy billing has stimulated solar power development, increased renewable energy in Maine and has contributed to the state's emissions reduction goals. Caroline Colan, legislative liaison for the Governor's Energy Office, said rate design is complicated and has resulted in sharp increases for some large commercial customers and lower monthly bill reductions for others. The programs have spurred the launch of Maine's solar industry and "revitalized other important clean energy sources, including small hydroelectric dams" that also participate in net energy billing, she said. Sen. Matthew Harrington of York, the committee's ranking Senate Republican, said in an interview Monday it's unlikely minority Republicans will have the votes to repeal net energy billing. "Ultimately, I'm personally looking at all of these as some sort of compromise with Democrats about net energy billing," he said. "I'd probably support all-out repeal, but I'm not realistic in this climate. I'm not very optimistic that any of the bills will get across the finish line." Hydropower and nuclear energy are more reliable than wind and solar power that depend on the atmosphere and sunlight, Harrington said. "These intermittent (sources) like solar and wind have a place in the renewable portfolio," he said. "I don't think we should be hitching our cart to those sources of energy." Tony Buxton, a lawyer who represents large industrial users of electricity, told lawmakers that businesses do not expect the Legislature to repeal net energy billing. He and the Office of the Public Advocate; Competitive Energy Services, a Portland consulting firm; and several hydro, wind and other generators, asked the Public Utilities Commission in January to approve a settlement that would reallocate costs across various customer classes. The settlement "could do much more to mitigate the injustices and inefficiencies of net energy billing than you are likely to be able to do in this legislative session," he said. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republicans push to end Maine solar subsidies but key lawmaker says it's unlikely
Feb. 28—Republicans in the Legislature on Thursday urged the repeal of solar and other clean energy subsidies they say are driving up the cost of electricity for Mainers while supporters of the so-called net energy billing program say it cost effectively advances zero-emissions energy. "A job-killing solar tax. That is what many companies across our state are calling Maine's solar development subsidy program, otherwise known as net energy billing," Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Penobscot, a sponsor of one of four bills to end the program, told the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Her constituents and other residents and businesses in Maine "are already having a hard time keeping the lights on," she said. "They cannot afford the increases to their electric bills caused by this solar tax." However, the committee's top Republican said it's unlikely majority Democrats will agree to repeal the net energy billing program and may instead agree to compromise legislation. Rebecca Schultz, senior advocate for climate and clean energy at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said the Republican legislation would end rooftop solar, barring the technology to individuals and households. The "biggest culprits behind rising electricity bills are fossil fuels and the climate change impacts they are causing — not solar energy," she told lawmakers. Significant rate increases since 2021 have been the result of volatile natural gas prices, Schultz said. Costs to recover from storms also is a significant factor driving up CMP bills, amounting to $220 million for storms in 2022 and 2023, adding $10.29 to monthly bills. The cost of net energy billing does not account for benefits such as a pullback in demand for fossil fuel supply, less strain on utilities' transmission and distribution systems and reduced pollution, Schultz said. The debate in Augusta over solar subsidies and net energy billing is not new. Net energy billing is intended to encourage renewable power generation, providing generators with credit for renewable power they produce and send to the electric grid. Before 2019, eligibility was restricted to small generators, reflecting opposition from then-Gov. Paul LePage and many Republican lawmakers. The rules changed in 2019, following the election of Gov. Janet Mills and fellow Democrats in the Legislature. One provision directed utilities to buy power at fixed rates from larger solar projects with up to 5 megawatts of capacity. In 2023, state law limited project size again, changed the formula for subsidies and reduced the eligibility for participating commercial and industrial projects. The most recent uproar — the hours-long legislative hearing drew an overflow crowd drawing scores of speakers on both sides of the issue — was at least partly due to skyrocketing electricity bills for some manufacturers and other businesses. The Public Utilities Commission is again looking into how much of a power bill should be used to incentivize renewable energy projects. Manufacturers, policymakers, utilities and others agree that Maine must add more solar and wind energy to reach targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Disagreements focus on how to apportion the cost. Jason Woollard, an Aroostook County potato grower who farms 15,000 acres of crops in a family business dating to 1886, told lawmakers his business added a potato processing plant in the last few years. Net energy billing policies "are killing our business," he said, with a $690,000-a- year bill for electricity as part of a public policy charge. "Our competitors don't have to pay that," he said. Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, said net energy billing represents a little more than 6% of monthly electricity bills. In addition, he said, solar projects have limited cost increases in larger components of electricity costs, such as supply that accounts for the kilowatt-hour rate and the amount of electricity a customer uses. "I'm curious why we would prioritize the smallest component that actually has an impact on reducing the big components as opposed to looking at the big components," Runte said. The Governor's Energy Office opposes repeal legislation, telling lawmakers that net energy billing has stimulated solar power development, increased renewable energy in Maine and has contributed to the state's emissions reduction goals. Caroline Colan, legislative liaison for the Governor's Energy Office, said rate design is complicated and has resulted in sharp increases for some large commercial customers and lower monthly bill reductions for others. The programs have spurred the launch of Maine's solar industry and "revitalized other important clean energy sources, including small hydroelectric dams" that also participate in net energy billing, she said. Sen. Matthew Harrington of York, the committee's ranking Senate Republican, said in an interview Monday it's unlikely minority Republicans will have the votes to repeal net energy billing. "Ultimately, I'm personally looking at all of these as some sort of compromise with Democrats about net energy billing," he said. "I'd probably support all-out repeal, but I'm not realistic in this climate. I'm not very optimistic that any of the bills will get across the finish line." Hydropower and nuclear energy are more reliable than wind and solar power that depend on the atmosphere and sunlight, Harrington said. "These intermittent (sources) like solar and wind have a place in the renewable portfolio," he said. "I don't think we should be hitching our cart to those sources of energy." Tony Buxton, a lawyer who represents large industrial users of electricity, told lawmakers that businesses do not expect the Legislature to repeal net energy billing. He and the Office of the Public Advocate; Competitive Energy Services, a Portland consulting firm; and several hydro, wind and other generators, asked the Public Utilities Commission in January to approve a settlement that would reallocate costs across various customer classes. The settlement "could do much more to mitigate the injustices and inefficiencies of net energy billing than you are likely to be able to do in this legislative session," he said. Copy the Story Link
