AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage announced a series of legislative initiatives Friday that the administration says are aimed at reducing electricity rates in Maine and providing homeowners with more options to lower their energy costs.
But several major policy shifts in the governor’s proposals are likely to encounter opposition from groups who question the administration’s commitment to developing Maine’s renewable energy industry and investing in energy conservation.
The four energy-related bills were among several major policy initiatives that LePage has introduced late in the legislative session, a gubernatorial prerogative also employed by his predecessors. Only two of the four energy bills were made available on the Legislature’s website Friday, but key provisions of the four bills include:
- Changing state policy to allow large-scale hydropower projects to count toward the state’s renewable energy requirements, thereby encouraging long-term contracts with large-scale hydropower producers.
- Creating a rebate program for the purchase of efficient home heating systems.
- Making substantial structural changes to Efficiency Maine Trust — the independent agency that distributes money for energy initiatives — in a way that the administration says will enhance accountability but that critics worry could undermine the agency.
- Creating new programs to encourage homeowners to invest in efficient electric heating systems.
“One of the largest inhibitors, if not the biggest obstacle to job creation is Maine’s high energy costs,” LePage said in a statement. “The number one focus of my administration is jobs, and if we want economic prosperity in Maine, we need to focus on reducing the cost of electricity and energy for Maine’s job creators.”
Groups involved in the energy debate in Maine were slow to respond to the governor’s proposals on Friday, in part because they were still analyzing the two bills that were released and had yet to see the two other measures.
But several organizations expressed concerns over one aspect of the plan that could turn into the next round in a battle between LePage and environmental groups over state policies that seek to encourage the development of renewable energy.
“Altogether, I think these bills that have been introduced [late] in the legislative session are anti-consumer, anti-long-term economic development and are pro-utilities,” said Dylan Voorhees, who oversees the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s clean energy program.
Maine’s renewable energy portfolio standards currently require power companies to increase the amount of electricity derived from renewable sources by 1 percent a year through 2017. That policy is regarded as a key incentive for the development of new wind power, biomass and tidal power in Maine because utilities often meet the mandate by purchasing renewable energy credits from “green” projects.
The administration tried unsuccessfully last year to eliminate that requirement, arguing that it was inflating the price of electricity. A coalition of environmental and renewable energy groups, in turn, failed to gather enough petition signatures for a referendum question that would have expanded that requirement by an additional 10 percent.
This time around, the LePage administration wants to allow power generators that generate more than 100 megawatts to qualify as a source under the state’s renewable energy portfolio. That change is primarily intended to benefit large-scale hydropower producers.
Such a move could also provide an additional incentive for negotiations on long-term contracts with large, Canadian power producers such as Hydro Quebec.
Ken Fletcher, who heads the Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, called the current 100-megawatt cap “artificial.” While electricity prices have declined recently due to the low price of natural gas, Fletcher said the administration wants to add as many “cost-effective renewables” into Maine’s energy mix as possible as a hedge.
“Why have artificial constraints” on hydropower? Fletcher said. “If it’s renewable, it’s renewable.”
Others predicted the change could harm Maine’s burgeoning renewable energy industry, including a wind power industry that has invested more than $1 billion in the state in recent years.
Beth Nagusky, who formerly held Fletcher’s position in the Baldacci administration and now serves as Maine director of Environment Northeast, said she believes the proposal is just another attempt to eliminate the renewable energy portfolio standard.
Nagusky said the standard is a function of supply and demand. Pointing out that there are no hydropower plants in Maine pumping out 100 megawatts, Nagusky said the proposal would flood the market with credits from large, Canadian hydropower producers. As a result, the value of credits needed by renewable energy projects developers in Maine would decline.
“That would effectively gut the Maine renewable energy portfolio standard,” Nagusky said.
But Sen. Michael Thibodeau, the Winterport Republican who is lead sponsor on the bills, said the question is, “What is the best way to lower electricity costs for Maine ratepayers, whether they be homeowners or energy-intensive industries?”
“I think the governor just wants to deliver the lowest-priced electron,” Thibodeau said. “If that lowest-priced electron happens to be from wind power, that is great. But the governor’s position is he doesn’t want to pay extra.”
LePage’s proposals to restructure Efficiency Maine Trust also are likely to encounter push-back from groups. The governor’s bill would require that the trust submit its budget for legislative review, similar to other parts of the state budget. It also would allow the governor to appoint the trust’s chairman and would require the trust to create new programs.
Thibodeau and Fletcher said those provisions are simply aimed at strengthening oversight and accountability. But Voorhees with NRCM suggested the changes were unnecessary for a program that, during the past year alone, helped Mainers make improvements that will save an estimated $450 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the projects.
“This is really problematic,” Voorhees said. “I think the bill creates unnecessary bureaucracy and opens the door for efficiency funds to be raided in the budget process … and I think it politicizes efficiency.”
The governor has repeatedly stated that he believes Maine’s existing renewable energy policies were designed to funnel money to “special interest groups,” a suggestion he reiterated on Friday.
“My energy policy will focus on all forms of energy, providing Mainers the freedom to choose which sources to buy from,” LePage said. “I do not support Augusta being in the business of increasing costs of Maine people to pad the pockets of special interest groups. We need to empower Maine people to take control of their energy fate.”
Thibodeau, who is chairman of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee that will review the bills, said he expected public hearings to be held the week after next.
I like a couple of these but need to learn more about the others. The changes to Efficiency Maine need to be spelled out and the logic behind pushing electric heat needs explanation as well.
I do believe that supporting efficient heating systems and promoting hydro power are very good ideas.
Pretty cool to see you post something I generally agree with.
Consider this a small round of digital applause.
Electric heat would have done us a whole lot of “good” back in January 1998.
The cost of electric heat is higher than most any other form in Maine. Gas, oil, wood ,pellets, geothermal, solar etc.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. I will still hold final judgement until I see specifics though.
Its the Transmission costs that do it in!
No it doesn’t . It;s paying for the cost of nuclear storage at Maine yankee..
old news.
Estimates of 40 – 80 million dollar increase in rates because of NCRM and Efficiency Maine and CLF ballot initiative.=$60,000,000 / 560,000 ratepayers = $107.42 a year……okay..that hurts
The government has been subsidizing renewable energy development at the cost of Maine ratepayers. As a result, energy prices have skyrocketed over the past decade and we can no longer expect Maine people to foot the rising bill.
The government has been subsidizing renewable energy development at the cost of Maine ratepayers. As a result, energy prices have skyrocketed over the past decade and we can no longer expect Maine people to foot the rising bill.
1. Reliability Maine; 8% of $30 billion for Maine would be $2.4 billion in expense for Maine ratepayers. = rate hike = 2.400,000,000 / 560,000 = $4,2857 per household.
2. Efficiency Maine , a program that places a surtax on everyone’s electric bill. That’s an increase = rate hike.
3.Add a cent of stranded cost(biomass 1980’s) to your per kilowatt hour charges—‘cha-ching’.
4. Shutting Maine Yankee before its expected lifetime added one cent to two cents to your bill–“cha-cjing’
5. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) pushed by the NRCM——add another cent.–‘cha-ching’
6. Capacity payments, the payments made to standby-on-demand industrial and commercial electricity producers, yep, pushed by these environmentalists. One cent more—‘cha-ching’.
7. Long-term contracts to the wind industry and conservation charges lobbied for by NRCM employees—another cent, ‘cha-ching’.
Maine gets 75 million to store nukes at Wiscasset. They could be dumped into a subduction zone safely and not be a problem. Nukes need to be considered as 106 nuke plants are due soon to be decommed and SAFE replacements need to be built, not with half century old technology.
Electricity is exponentially higher than ANY other source of heat Clearly the guy hasn’t done his homework OR he has some “deal” with the Koch brothers ( or friends) going here..and of course wind is more expensive still!!!
“The No. 1 focus of my administration is jobs, and if we want economic prosperity in Maine, we need to focus on reducing the cost of electricity and energy for Maine’s job creators.”
If only we could believe him. Is he telling the truth or is this just another thinly veiled attempt by Paul Richard LePage to blame his inability to keep his promise of JOBS, JOBS, JOBS that he claimed he could produce if we elected him Governor? As everyone is aware Maine has lost jobs during the reign of Paul Richard LePage as Maine’s Governor. By some reports by the US Dept of Labor that number is in the area of 7200. That in fairness to Mr. LePage may not be an accurate number but even he does not dispute the fact that there are less jobs in Maine now then the day he took office. First he blamed his inability to produce the jobs he promised on red tape and regulations. The legislature passed laws to reduce them. He told us we needed insurance reform and the legislature passed that as well. He then told us that there were all kinds of jobs available but that Mainers didn’t have the right skills. He used the example of a Rockland snow plow manufacturer who supposedly couldn’t find help. It turned out that the real problem was not that they couldn’t find workers, the real problem was that they couldn’t keep workers. Contrast that to a company less then an hours drive south, Bath Iron Works, who hires the same type of workers, welders in this case, who has neither the problem of finding workers or keeping them. He then went on to blame joblessness on the unemployed. After that he went on national TV and told the world that the reason that Maine was losing jobs was because too many of our kids were getting BA degrees. He said that we should be teaching kids how to farm, cut down trees and fish. Now he has decided that electricity cost are what is preventing the “job creators” from creating jobs. He claims that Maine’s electric rates are high and that is the reason he can’t keep his promise of JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. There is only one problem with what Mr. LePage is telling us. Maine has the lowest rate per kilowatt hour of any State in New England when it comes to commercial and industrial electricity cost. (http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=puc-faq&id=192153&v=article) The rest of the New England States are not losing jobs like Maine is. In fact they are adding jobs. So is Paul Richard LePage telling the truth or is this just another in a long line of excuses for his inability to keep his promise of JOBS, JOBS, JOBS?
The entire basis of your rant (that Maine is losing jobs) has been completely disproved, and the organization that presented the initial information and pushed that narrative (Maine Center For Economic Policy – MECEP) has pulled back on their bogus claims.
They were using estimated data from the federal dept. of labor that had errors that had already been identified – in other words, your whole argument is based on a data entry error, and you just keep spouting it either knowingly misleading readers or blissfully ignorant of reality.
If even the originators of this false narrative and political attack have pulled back and stopped trying to discredit LePage with it, why haven’t you?
Seriously, if someone accidentally keys in an additional 10,000 jobs into a database in the future, how would you feel if LePage came out and touted the numbers as if they were accurate?
Talking about rants. Did you happen to see the part where I said ”
That in fairness to Mr. LePage may not be an accurate …….”. The fact still remains that even if that particular report was totally wrong that there are less jobs in Maine today then the day that Paul Richard LePage took office. Even he has not disputed that fact. Be that as it may how do you account for the fact that Maine has the lowest electric rates in New England as far as commercial and industrial rates are concerned and we still are losing jobs when the other 5 States aren’t?
I get a huge kick out of your left-wing talking points.
Talking point: “Maine has the lowest energy prices in New England.”
Talking point debunked: Maine operates in a global economy. Maine depends much more on energy intensive natural resource based industry – these are better paying jobs, not minimum wage tourism and service industry jobs. Our relation to the rest of New England in energy prices has no real bearing on our economy, our relation to other global economies that we compete with has a significant bearing on our economy.
Think of it like this: economic & industrial geography as opposed to physical geography.
Got it? Good. I’ll only offer you that lesson once. You’re welcome.
You know if you want to debate let’s get it on, but try to quote what I said and not what you wished I had said please. Here is what I said, ”
Maine has the lowest rate per kilowatt hour of any State in New England when it comes to commercial and industrial electricity cost. (http://www.maine.gov/tools/wha…” Nice try to twist my words to make them conform to your argument. Perhaps instead of me getting a lesson it should be you who gets one in reading comprehension.
My lesson still applies. I think you missed the point that I was just exposing your slightly nuanced statement as a variation on the standard fare left-wing talking point used by the wind power groups and crony capitalist green energy investors.
Either way, your argument is still faulty, it ignores the fact that our economy is not New Hampshire or Vermont, and therefore your attempt to claim everything is okay because our rates are lower is bogus. Bogus. Again, reread the lesson I gave you just above your last post.
Again, you’re welcome. But be careful, I won’t continue to be so magnanimous for long. ;-)
I was commenting on your misquoting me in order to make your point. I guess you and LePage have quite a bit in common when it comes to the truth. Really now how low can you go when you have to resort to misquoting someone in order to make your point. By doing that alone you have reduced your level of credibility to zero.
By misquoting you, you mean that I pointed out that just because you sprinkled in “commercial and industrial rates” it was essentially nothing more than you repeating a left-wing talking point?
Forget wind— take it out of the mix —and then talk energy .
NOT so much for residential rates, which is one of the HIGHEST in the courty . So how DOES that happen isn’t the electricity ( source) the same for both ?? They gerry rig a preferentiak rate to FAVOR business and residential pays a HIGHER rate so busienss can GET a lower rate!!!! YOU BOTH miss the point Residential buyer are getting screwed.
If our relationship to “other global economies” is not affected by the cost differential between us and the other N.E. states what does. 4mermainer may not be 100% correct about us being the lowest in N.E., I think Vermont may be lower, but he is close. So, if all that is not important, why does Gov. Lepage keep beating the drum about lowering energy prices?
It’s that because of the type of industry and jobs we have, we need our energy prices to be competitive with other similar industries, not with VT, NH and MA which may not have the same industry, therefore their economies are not so dependent on energy costs.
OK I’ll grant you 2 things insurance cost and energy costs are high in maine and bad for ALL of us( not just business) SO why are /were the teas against DIRIGO and Health care reform intended to contain those costs?? AND why have they REVERSED the energy building code??
are they WIND related jobs in the other states?
Ok WHO disprovved it? __ go ahead Pleeze pleeze rell me you read it from the biased MHPC -maine line —-PTHshaw
He is right on alot of points energy costs and infrastructure are all big reasons fossil fuel costs are crippling us and it’s gonna get worse this summer I bet.
BIW, a highly successful, great Maine company. Anyone note that they are unionized? Unionized and well paid, and successful. Skilled, money making, and unionized. LePage hates unions so much, why is he pointing to BIW?
“Some aspects of the governor’s bills are likely to encounter opposition,
however, from groups concerned that the administration is weakening
Maine policies intended to encourage development of renewable energy.”
Well there is the crux of all this. Green = expensive. So do we want cheap power or the appearance of “green”power. I want cheap!
Not to mention that hydro is renewable and every bit as green as wind (which requires massive cuts through forests and demolition of mountaintops). These special interest groups definition of “renewable” is actually “wind turbines to pad their own pockets.”
Lepage is correct on one .
Hydro should be considered a renewable!
And I “never” agree with the Pea Brain.
While Hydro is ‘renewable’, it is not ‘green’. It creates environmental problems of it’s own which simply aren’t there with solar.
Hydro does have it’s problems, but no more than wind towers. As you point out the only green energy “without an environmental impact” is solar energy (quotes placed for damage to environment caused from the industrial fabrication of solar panels and the materials used to make them). That being said there are no real projects to develop solar fields in this state, whereas we have an abundance of high volume rivers in this state, as well as being one of the few states with real large scale tidal power plant and wave farm viability. The plain fact of the matter is: everything has a downside! Find the best combination of downsides and upsides and you’ve got a winning formula; for our state, in terms of long term cost, cost per kilowatt hour, amount of energy produced, and availability of qualified operators and technicians to run and repair, some form of water power is at least as good as the other options being touted.
Yeah, we have solar 18 days a year. Guess by your criteria, all the renewables have a problem because they either kill birds, fish or have a down stream impact, even gasahol, so there really are no pure green sources available for reliable energy.
i have lived with on-site solar for 12 years and counting.
Here in Maine, in winter, days are too short and there is not enough sunlight to make large scale solar worthwhile. Actually, a way of storing electricity is something being over looked by all these geniuses. You’ll never convince me that every bit of electricity is used. I’m not too smart when it comes to these things but I believe we need mass storage, somehow.
on site solar
on-site solar
It costs money to save money. I spent $8K to put in a high efficiency gas furnace and my heating bill dropped by 60%.
I bought a house built under the energy code of the 1980’s and save the same ( actually 75% ) year, after year , after year ——forever. I could spend another $3,000 and be totally energy independent forever!! BUT we don’ have an energy code any more we reinstated it for ONE brief year, last year and then the teas abandoned it because the chamber of commerce said it would be too costly for busienss. ( cough ,cough—- developers).
The Chamber of Commerce IS the Republican Party!
To them,
It’s all about Making Money!
Pry open your mind just a bit and you might make the connection between lower energy costs for employers of all types, even the greenies, and the creation of jobs.
Do we HAVE any Hydro?( the answer is NO by the way ) So this would be HYDRO shipped in from from Canada we are calling “green”, so exchanging ” foreign” oil for foreign green? OH I get it !! NOT really Neither do you.
DOH, before the rant check your prettyfoolish facts and you’ll find we have lots of hydro here. Ignorant rant.
EIA data for the first three quarters of 2011 shows that 24.4% of total Maine generated power came from hydro sources which are close to historical averages going back thru 1990. Responding to any comment by PF is a waste of time because she doesn’t know any facts just beliefs.
We USED to have hydro. The town I am in was powered by a LOCAL hydro station for many years. Until the green nutjobs forced there removal to allow the fish to return. To this day no return of the fish and power has gone up every year. Thank you local enviro”mental”ist….
+1 You head the nail squarely on the head. Nagusky and Voorhees are schills for the wind power industry, pure and simple. In fact all of NRCM acts as a schill for wind power. They pass themselves off as the great ‘protector’ of our state’s resources but have shown over the last 3-4 years that they unanimously always come down on the side of wind power while ignoring or critizing all other forms of “green” energy.
Of the dozens of grid scale wind power projects operating, being constructed, or in the permitting stage in Maine, NRCM has never once voiced a total denial sentiment for any of them. Mr. Voorhies always files to be an intervener in every project and always supports the project no matter how wrongly sited or eggregious the location is. On the couple of occassions where it was apparent that the application was under pressure from the public to be denied (such as the Bowers Mt. project), suddenly NRCM withdraws as an intervener in the process. Cathy Johnson, a lawyer for NRCM, is the only public figure at NRCM who has shown any sign of integrity, ethics, or moral standards on this issue.
Let’s not forget that NRCM was one of three organizations to split a $500,000. “gift’ from First Wind, and First Wind, Reed & Reed Construction and others who benefit from wind power application approvals continue to be among NRCMs largest donors on a yearly basis.
I think it’s hilarious that Penguin is proposing a rebate for switching to high efficiency appliances and heating systems – that’s been a hallmark of Obama’s Recovery & Reinvestment Act for 3 years. What ever happened to railing against government handouts?
The hallmark of BO’s energy policy is giving handouts to inefficient energy sources. Solar and wind energy are non-dispatchable and operate on average only <20% and 30% of capacity respectively according to the EIA. The capital cost are also 4 to 10 times higher than conventional sources per megawatt generated. Subsidizing intermittent generation is a waste of taxpayer monies until there is cost effective energy sequestration.
Here I’ll give you cheap— ENERGY CONSERVATION!!!!! It’s also the “greenest ” thing you can get . There is NO CARBON to energy you don’t USE in the first place! Not only is It cheap; it SAVES you money FOREVER if done right. HELLO engage brain instead of sound bites.
And GUN guy?? The right’s drill drill drill policy isn’t ” green” at all. IT’s profit profIt ptofit It is spelled continued DEPENDENCE .
Listen VERY carefully the next time NEWT speak s on it. NOTICE he say he ASKED the oil company’s how much are they WILLING to ALLOW the price of oil to be?? GET SERIOUS Any presidential candidate isnt ‘suppose to serve at the will of the OIL companies . REMEBER BP??
You are probably the least foolish poster here! Bravo! Please persevere in spite of the true foolishness of so very many.
And speaking of drilling, when the government allows a company to drill, it should be mandated that what petrolium which is extracted from that lease STAYS in the USA or the lease is cancelled.
How will speculators make their money??? (-;
Green is a lie!!! Green has control issues. utopia/eden will never exist on this planet… Life is not fair and never will be, so don’t wait for it to balance out.. these are truth’s alot of people don’t want to hear, yet they are real… They will still be pumping oil in 500 years.. and the people will still be serving the whims of the world leaders.. It doesn’t matter anymore.. we are all done, the kingdoms will rule what we do an how we use energy.
on site solar 50 years and counting
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
We want cheap.
Governor LePage is right. For all too long, the Maine people have been beholden to the special interest groups, such as Angus King’s windmill scams. King’s scams have not only destroyed our mountaintops, they have also driven our electricity rates through the roof because wind power is simply not affordable nor is it reliable. Hydro power is also renewable and it’s about time we start using more hydro power, especially when it will reduce electricity rates. It’s great to finally have a Governor who believes in lowering the electricity rates, rather than pad the pockets of the special interest groups, like his two predecessors did all too often. Go LePage!
The special interest Lepage is beholden to is Business so what about residential rates, which are some of the HIGHEST in the COUNTRY??
Indeed, the residential rates are some of the highest in the country, but it is after 40 years of failed leadership. The two most recent failed leaders that come to mind are King and Baldacci. These two cronies were beholden to the wind developers so much that they mandated we consumers buy wind energy, even when it is much more expensive (22 cents per kW). Makes me wonder if these two former governors were getting a cut of the government subsidies, at the expense of us poor taxpayers.
LePage wants all sources of energy to be considered, which will lower the electricity costs and encourage job growth. Sounds like a very reasonable plan that will move Maine out of the gutter.
his job growth depends on lower electrical rates because of the idea we need to drive to factory to produce a good.
L.L.Bean would prosper by sending a driver to deliver and pick up goods.
Most Mainers are Artisans.
on-site solar will lower your GRID bill.
I’m pretty sure that one of the biggest obstacles to drawing in businesses and jobs at this point is Mr. LePage himself. Who would want to deal with that? He’s gotta go.
Yup. I’m sure that the nice piece on LePage’s accomplishments in regulatory reform, tax reform and more that the Wall Street Journal ran last week was a real bad thing for job creators to read :sarcasm:…
Seems as though the only people complaining about LePage are the people who have probably never created a job in their lives.
That’s quite an assumption to make, Concerned. LePage is hindering progress because of his bizarre, “I’m the boss,” ways, the lies, the hatred and the blame he throws at some that are trying thier hardest.
He blames Maine’s financial issues on the jobless for not having jobs, the sick for needing medical care, and the children because they need educations. Other than maybe the 200 or so jobs that came back to the state because of the Millinocket deal (that he now is backing out of–what is he going to do with that $216k), he has done little to do anything other than embarass and scare the many hardworking people in our great state.
He’s gotta go.
Go back into to your PenQuis-Cap provided trailer and turn up the heat, compliments of PenQuis. Eat lunch, compliments of federal and state funded food stamps. You entitlement types are the vast majority of those who despise Lepage because you’re afraid he’ll take away enough of your subsidies that you’ll actually have to go find a job!
he ran Marden’s. He offered raises. Many could not take a raise because they lose state benefits.
So, for $11 an hour, Mr LePage had a good worker. hmmmm?
I think he knows more than you think.
My ex worked at Mardens. He helped open the Scarborough store and worked there for a year. He made $8 an hour and he worked his ass off. He left to take a better paying job. He actually liked the work and liked the people he worked with, but nobody can live off that kind of money. I recall he was looking forward to a raise to $8.25 after his year review, if they felt he deserved it. Marden’s does offer health insurance, but it was close to $60 a week for just him, and he didn’t feel he could pay his other bills (including child support to me) if he got insurance.
I highly doubt that there are many people at Marden’s making $11 an hour.
You should have seen the company Xmas party. The people he worked with were great, and it was fun for that reason, but what a joke! They were all talking about how they would much rather have an extra $10 or $15 in their check than get treated to this celebration.
He needs to go.
Guess we all missed it . Post it would you??
“Seems as though the only people complaining about LePage are the people who have probably never created a job in their lives.”
Not only have they not created a single job, most of them don’t have or want a job. The Federal and State governments are supposed to take care of them. They’re entitled to it!
If you are referring to me, you could not be further from the truth. Other than when I took paid medical leave (because I had a job with good benefits) after having my kids, I have worked steadily for the past 30+ years. I bought a house at 25 and started my own business at 35. I created a job for myself that has supported my family for the past 10+ years and at times I have been able to put others to work. You know where to blow your big wind, big scam.
big wind is big scam. hold onto your job
Don’t flatter yourself, it’s not ALL ABOUT YOU! I was speaking in general terms about the LePage haters. But were so thankful for the biography.
You responded to my comment and that response included this incorrect assumption: You entitlement types are the vast majority of those who despise Lepage because you’re afraid he’ll take away enough of your subsidies that you’ll actually have to go find a job! You entitlement types are the vast majority of those who despise Lepage because you’re afraid he’ll take away enough of your subsidies that you’ll actually have to go find a job!
The vast majority that despise LePage are MAINERS from every level of society and income, not entitlement types, whatever your definition of that is. Oh, and by the way, that would be, “we’re.”
maybe, if subsidies provided on site solar and mandated once solar back-up gone-you limited-nanny speaks=smart meters. oh yes..some would steal..batteries sell for junk prices.
Government is the GRID, do not depend on it.
Hard to lower rates in Northern Maine when you get your power from Canada
hydroquebec.
You can’t lower rates when the Canadian Corporations provide most of the electricity to Maine at a Substantial Profit.
Do you hate profit? How many products you depend on each and every day were produced by non-profits?
So is this prop0sal more than the Maine Pace Loans that require each town to have a local ordinance on the books in order for residents to take advantage of Maine Pace Loan
4 .99% loan? This program not seeded by the state it is seeded by Federal Government in the amount of $30 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant from U.S. Dept. of Energy. After which a homeowner can take advantage of these loans to weatherize and get more efficient energy saving systems in place in their homes? Homeowner’s work with Efficiency Maine to accomplish these energy improvements. Here is the website
http://www.efficiencymaine.com/renewable-energy.
I am concerned what the Governor has planned. His track record hasn’t been as trustworthy
as we would hope.
All right…just how much fun do the editors at the BDN have picking out photos to go with the LePage stories? My guess would be…a bunch. I know I would. Yes, yes. Simple things…
I was thinking the same thing…
Create new programs to encourage homeowners to invest in efficient electric heating systems??? there is no such thing. Like anything else LaPudge has proposed, this seems to stink.
Invest In electric heat? At last check my generator could not produce enough electricity to heat my house using over a gallon of fuel an hour. maybe 3 gallons of oil a day heats my house just fine. Electric heat cost at least 3 times what oil does . Electric heat is a heating element no one heater is going to magically produce much more heat than another . Even an incandescent light bulb is 90% percent efficient at producing heat. Ya think new electric heaters are going to save much money? Why all the misinformation? Just another way to justify spending tax dollars? Anyone selling those super efficient electric heaters that magically use less than half the electricity should be put in jail along with the guy selling fake maple syrup. Fraud is fraud should be treated the same.
Years ago an engineer mentor helped me understand the ROI on every dollar invested in energy efficiency, by reviewing real world commecial/industrial numbers (Uh-oh!) Seems like states with comprehensive energy plans have wrapped their arms around this(See NJ) and have developed a strategy to retain and attract new jobs through a systems benefit charge like the one that Maine uses. Why is this so hard for people to comprehend?
electric heaters are nearly 100% efficient at making heat How is replacing them going to save money? More people paying on people less educated people. Like I said before anyone telling how much money you will save by changing electric heaters should be in Jail for fraud.
Not an engineer but if those numbers can be verified, then it would be hard to argue that they should be replaced. My comments are directed towards the bulk of electric devices out there that waste far more energy.
Yes I think conservation is the best bang for your buck. Fridge, lights, turn down electric hot water turn computers off when not in use . I encourage anyone to take the time and do honest research first . Do not just take a selling pitch.
On July 11, 1952 President Eisenhower approves the joint US / British Operation Ajax (headed by Teddy Roosevelt grandson Kermit Roosevelt ) to create a coup d’etat to overthrow democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh and reinstate the Shah of Iran, According to Dr. Donald M. Wilber, ex CIA chief “coup”strategist, ’cause Mossadegh nationalized the oil industry.
In 1954 The Shah returns controll of Iranian oil to a consortium of private foreign oil companies made up of: “AIOC [Anglo-Iranian Oil Company] (with a 40% holding), Royal Dutch Shell (14% holding), Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), Standard Oil of California, Socony Vacuum, the Texas Company, Gulf Oil Corporation, and the Compagnie Francaise des Petroles.”
http://www.moreorless.au.com/heroes/mossadegh.html – Operation Ajax
Standard Oil of New Jersey became Exxon Mobil with controlling interest by the Rockefeller Family Foundation
http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~schwrtz/Rockefeller.html – “Probing the Rockefeller Fortune” (A report to the US Congress during the confirmation hearings of Nelson Rockefeller to the vice presidency)
http://www.eugenics-watch.com/roots/chap12.html – Rockefeller family funding of “Eugenics” movement
.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics – Theodore Roosevelt a proponent of eugenics which Adolf Hitler praised and used the ideas of in “Mein Kampf” (“My Struggle”).
What is undeniable is that since Angus King deregulated the electricity industry our rates have gone steadily upward. The attempt at a free market to drive costs down has worked in reverse; I pay more electricity now then I did before deregulation. Some will point to the cost/kwh as being lower but they ignore the delivery cost of those kwh’s. Doesn’t matter what comprises the bill, it’s still more now then it was then, alot more. We were sold a bag of empty promises by someone who is now profiting from the high electric rates combined with subsidies making windpower “affordable”. Angus King is in the wind power business, and is living very well. Ironic isn’t it?
actually you are wrong–our rates fell and we are just now approaching the cost of the rate, in place when we deregulated 15 years ago. Granted they didn’tl fall enough BUT they have still been lowerr over the last 15 years then they were BEFORE we deregulated .
Is there really any difference between:
having regulation keeping rates artificially high
and
having Renewable Portfolio Standards keeping rates artificially high?
Think about it.
The initiatives outlined in the article seem to have merit. In addition, Gov. Lepage should make it easier for consumers to select the green option while paying more for electricity but receiving a tax rebate or credit in return for being responsible to our future needs. The option to pay more for green electricity is available now but not very well publicized and needs a government incentive through qualified rebates. People who support green technology as an environmental measure which will have substantial economic savings in the future should take the lead and not depend on government for the development of renewable sources of electricity. The big problem with energy in Maine refers to our dependence on fossil fuel for home heating will require a different strategy which we are all waiting for. Natural gas is an interim solution and we truly need a policy which will reduce or remove Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels.
natural gas = urban
wood = rural
Can someone who understands conservative hypocrisy please explain how come this is not
the government inferring with the free market ?
It reminds me of the Newt promising $2.50 a gallon gas, if you vote for him.
It is loosening the knots that former democrat rule put on people and businesses, which willmake the product cheaper.. sorry you didn’t understand.
It is horse apples that the executive department, not the free market …. and future dealers,
sets the price of energy, so don’t swallow these lies.
Can’t even begin to imagine the carbon footprint of the welfare recipients in Maine.
Yeah !
Them Welfare guys and their Bently’s , preposperous!
Electric heats fine till we get a storm and the power is knocked out. What then, freeze for possibly days? I suppose we could all have generators for back up but most electric heaters run at 900-1200 watts so when you have one or two together on a generator you’d best unplug your chest freezer and refrigerator. No thanks, I’ll stick to wood with oil backup.
Maybe my grandmother can move in with you.. or she can heat with electricity…
wood and on site solar
Somewhere the proudly liberal Bill Hathaway must be chuckling: remember how his support for a hydro power proposal for the upper St. John basin helped get him “excused” from resuming his senatorial career? Oh, there was such bluster and fuming. Never! said Maine power companies, joined by Republicans, conservatives and conservationists of all stripes. What – flood the wild rivers of Maine; flood all that paper planatation land? Preposterous! No big guvmint projects for Maine – nosiree! No socialist schemes for Maine! Thirty years earlier the battle cry from pretty much the same crew was “kill the socialist Roosevelt Quoddy Project”, which was done in fairly good time.
Fast forward a few decades, and big guvmint hydroquebec is just the ticket. What’s that – there was massive flooding of wild Quebec rivers now buried under storage lakes (with more on the way)? No matter. No inconsistency here – those are Quebec’s rivers and that is big Quebec guvmint, not ours. We’re still pure as the wind-driven snow. Ah, the vicissitudes of ideology, eh? Piffle.
on site solar, cut GRID bill, get off government
Guess you (4mermainer) haven’t been paying attention to news lately with all the companies moving into Brunswick Naval Airstation, Carbonite coming to Lewiston thanks to LePage, the Mills in Millinocket and East Millinocket restarting up due to deals LePage helped do. The mill in Baileyville in Washington County starting up thanks to LePage , the Sardine plant in Washington County starting back up. Also New Balance creating jobs here in Somerset County with 40 announced with hundreds more coming. Thanks to KVGAS and Summit Utilities building a Natural Gas pipeline here in Somerset and Kennebec Counties. After LePage stated at the recent Town Hall Meeting here in Madison that he was opposed to the Town of Madison borrowing over 103 million dollars to build it putting this town and its taxpayers at risk. You can used MCEP data but this is the same MCEP and Kit St. John that claims Welfare is economic growth.
Brunswick Naval Airstation. what are the companies?
No one ever seems to talk about the Net Metering limitation we have in Maine. I happen to have an 85 acre farm in Maine that has not been “farmed” in decades. About half of it is open land. I would bet there are many other Mainers in similar circumstances. Years ago, a Portland legislator tried to get Maine to adopt the model used in Germany but it was vetoed and MPUC grudgingly accepted Net Metering when I’m sure they’d rather have none of it.
In a nutshell, in Germany farmers stick up solar panels and wind turbines (small scale) and generate electricity. They do this on part of their farms and treat the power generated as just another crop like beans and potatoes. Makes sense to me. Solar panels are now down to the magic $1/watt making their ROI reasonable. A 20kW array would run probably $25,000. In addition, if Maine participated in SRET credits, the credits can be sold on the open market (much like carbon credits) thus producing more income for the solar panel operator.
The problem in Maine is that we do not have an SRET program for the credits and we have only Net Metering. With Net Metering, all you are allowed to do is get a credit for power you generate in excess of what you use. These credit are good for 12 months. If you don’t use them, you lose them. So, there is -zero- incentive to erect more solar panels than a person normally would use as you would lose the credits.
We use about 18,000 kWh/year. I would put up the solar panels and use this as part of my retirement income but I cannot do so as I cannot earn any cash for the effort.
I would like to see the issue resolved. Everyone complains about insufficient electric power and high costs. With all the farms with open land we have sitting around doing nothing, this would be an income producer for the farmers while helping supply needed power.
Take a wild guess which company wants nothing to do with this.
Write to our Governor Paul LePage, it’s a great Idea, he listens, wally world has acres of flat roof that could be used also..
On another subject about credits. Why should the governorment give credits for anything. If for example wind power can’t make a profit then it would be a proven failure and go out of business.. No tax credits/no grants do it on your own…
I have thought about writing to LePage. I will see if I can squeeze that in. I want to make sure I get all my facts right before I write to him.
With regard to the credits, there are a couple. The SRET credits are sold on the private market in an auction style bidding process that does not have a lot to do directly with the solar producer. I think if you generate 1 megawatt of power, you get one SRET credit that you can sell to some smokestack corporation. This is all handled like a brokerage firm – you have the credit and the brokerage does all the dealing. The smokestack corporation buys your SRET for around $400 to $800 (last I looked) and you as the solar owner reap this profit. The smokestack corporation shows these credits as proof they comply with the law in that they have “offset” their air pollution by paying for/supporting clean energy. So, the government doesn’t really pay for anything or lose any money. It’s that whole “carbon offset” deal they have going.
As far as tax credits go, I hear what you are saying. But, just about every industry received credits when it started. The farmers still receive credits. LePage speaks of “incentives” to get companies to invest in Maine. I hear what you are saying but given the estimated 25 year lifespan of the actual home solar array and the contribution it is making toward cleaner air, conservation, jobs for solar panel installers, and on and on, the Feds not receiving 33% of the cost of the installation seems rather minor. This is not existing cash out of the coffers but cash that did not make it into the coffers in the first place. Besides, the money that homeowner did not spend on a solar panel array plus the money he is saving on electricity no doubt will be spent in the economy either through direct purchases or investments. Call it a means by which the consumer is keeping more of his own money to spend how he so chooses.
Please don’t get me wrong – I like saving the planet as much as the next guy, but I would not be considering any of this unless I could make a dollar on the deal. I have looked into a wide variety of energy producing methods and spoken with a number of companies and educational institutions who are involved in all this.
The trend in the past (private home stuff here) has been toward wind power vs. solar photovoltaic (PV) as PV costs have been high ($4.00+/watt). However, wind power on small scales has its problems. The turbine is somewhat reasonable in cost but the tower needed is quite pricey. If you lived on the coast or atop some mountain or someplace where the wind really whipped, you’d be fine. But, for me, the average wind in my area is 12.5 mph which is kind of so-so for wind generation. And, as turbines are mechanical, they require maintenance and are subject to high-wind problems and so forth.
Solar PV, on the other hand, is pretty innocuous. Generally, low to the ground and in long arrays, not mechanical, and requiring a minimum of maintenance, these seem ideal. Maine’s solar exposure is pretty good, actually. Of course, ideally, in the summer, one makes the most power as that is when we get the long days and the most solar exposure. The winters are quite a bit less, of course. With the new panels coming in at around $1/watt, plus the new individual inverters, you have a much simpler installation. PV puts out DC power. In the past, special DC wiring and large inverters were needed. Today, there are individual inverters per panel that simply feed a branch line with clean AC power. Each inverter is individually addressable and monitored from a central site via the internet. The technology really has improved and is only getting better.
I plan to explore this as something to bolster my retirement income for our family farm in Maine. My hope, anyway.
Each inverter is individually addressable and monitored from a central site via the internet.
= GRID = government controlled.
go back to array of panels @$1 @ watt. = $1000 buys 1 kwh of capacity.
$1000 buys you batteries.
$1000 buys hardware.
place on a movable trailor.
Sorry, your writing style is from the days of telegrams. I am unsure of your point.
My goal is to make a few bucks. That requires me to feed the grid and use the grid as a “battery.” 1kW gets me nothing when I am burning 1500 kWh/month and want to expand for heating purposes.
If one were lucky, got 100% efficiency (unlikely) and got 6 hours of sunlight per day, that would be 180 kWh/month, using a 1 kWh array. At 16 cents, that’s $28.80. Not worth the bother.
Green is nice. Money is green. I’ll stick with green money.
on site solar = $5,000 invest. save on GRID bill. You will be GREENER than ever outside of use less.
I’m sorry, I cannot understand what you wrote.
And the solar panels will not stick 500 feet into the air and have blinking red lights . Sure as heck some Mass. developer would want to spread solar panels over all the ridgelines and mtns. thereby spoilng a good idea.
I am not so sure solar PV would work in Maine on a large scale but for backyard usage to first eliminate the home power bill and then the excess sold off to the grid to make a few bucks, it should work. Of course, the advantage with wind is that it runs 24/7 and in the winter but you need the investment and large-scale to make it worthwhile. The offshore stuff looks interesting where wind is plentiful. Of course, tidal is a great concept and Maine tides are well-known but this has technical and maintenance issues.
The one thing I think everyone can say is that electric heat is very convenient, inexpensive to install, very clean, compact, and easy to use. The only downside I see with it (excluding the environmental issues with coal, nuclear, and so) is its extreme cost. It is very, very costly to use as a heat source at 16 cents kWh in Maine. In other areas the costs are far less. Wyoming is $0.062 kWh.
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_factors_affecting_prices
Our Governor has done more commonsensical moves this past year than any Governor since Longley.
I am with LePage on this..the environmental groups he is referring to have greatly disappointed those of us who truly care about Maine’s environment..besides his valid arguments about the high cost of these so called renewables they are not what they claim to be and will forever change the environment of Maine for the absolute worst.
The idea that we would somehow “gut” the RPS by considering generators in excess of 100 MW to be renewable is based on self-serving reasoning. The purpose of the RPS is to encourage carbon-free/green/renewable/pick-your-term sources of energy. Just because some of those sources happen to be in Canada doesn’t make them any less renewable, nor does it make them any less worthy of encouragement. The fact that it would also lower the cost to consumers is even better. It might make it harder for other Maine-based sources of renewable energy to compete, but if the provider can’t compete and isn’t viable in the long term (think wind energy), then we shouldn’t be paying extra for it.
Yeah. It is not like Canada is attacking us. Why do some lump all foreign sources together?
True interest: Decreasing NATIONAL energy costs. Lower our energy cost which would lower our cost to manufacture, which will bring back jobs. Hook up to Quebec Electric and build new nuke plants. The end result will increase circulation for money and potential business, thus Maine jobs will increase and potential capital for green energy will be on the rise because its development is a direct function related to energy cost and money. If our country cant make money to heat our homes then how the heck are we supposed to develop green energy. I just don’t think green energy should be shoved down our throats when we are barely able to tread water on the energy cost that we have now. I support it, but we need to be real right now in our immediate needs and how best to achieve long term goals.
In addition if some form of green energy was supposed to save us and liquify so much capital, why hasn’t it done so? Huh, we have other options to lessen the energy cost what are we gonna do, lets shoot ourselves in the foot and try to depend on green energy.
There is no magical formula to stumble upon in the green energy world, step a day in the life of an engineer. Entropy ends up bringing all your hopes and dreams to a dead end.
“Creating new programs to encourage homeowners to invest in efficient electric heating systems. HELLO there is no such thing as energy efficient electric heat in Maine Are they truly daft ???
If you look at the cost of oil heat today, not the 70’s, electric heat is about equal or a better value. 100 gals of oil a month= $385.00. You can buy alot of electricity for $385.00 per month.
Nagusky. Grrr. Time for her to cease her ideological bullying of Maine’s energy future.
So if the legislation is passed who gains: Maine Companies (this makes Maine more attractive to new businesses+ good jobs) and residential customers. Who loses? Voorhees and Company. Sounds good to me, Maine Legislature please pass this bill into law ASAP!!
Industrial wind turbines are NOT renewable. Wind should not be considered renewable for our portfolio. The degree to which this article is biased in favor of the wind debacle is disgusting!
We signed up for Electricity Maine, give you 17% discount on your supply of electricity, you stay with the same utility company all you have to do is sign up and they do the rest, still one bill just shows your supplier as Electricity Maine and your delivery as it was before! We saved $17.00 on our light bill last month! And I don’t have to thank the Governor for that, nor do I have to worry about him taking it away from a promise not kept!
You can wait until march and the standard offer rate goes down 15%
Now if we could get out of all these expensive “renewable” power contracts, the standard off could go down even more, but all the goose egg liberals dont want that, they want high electricity rates.
Go Paul keep the cost savings to Mainers coming!
The great thing about the Electricity Maine is no matter if the standard offer rate decreases, they will always sell it to us 17%less than the standard offer!
Now let me go see if this is an ALEC inspired bill as Mr. Thibodeau is a ‘registered’ member. Now remember, ALEC’s interests are all about increasing corporate profit not saving the consumer anything though the language of its ‘model’ bills often twists things in that direction to make them appear otherwise. Will be back in a few with the results of my search.
So we “give away” the hydro system once owned by GNP to Canadians & THEN give tax breaks and incentives? Koch brothers would be so proud
Trust LePage to figure out how to lower electric rates? I think not. This man couldn’t figure out how to put two batteries in a flashlight.
Being a good leader in any business is having access to the people who do have the knowedge, and Governor Paul LePage does… (-;
Who in their right mind would espouse electric heat?
I’ll say this again, in the 70’s when electric heat -VS- 28 cent a gal fuel oil it didn’t make any sense. today with $385-$600 mthly to heat your house with oil, electric heat is not a bad buy.. thus lowering the cost of electricity is a good idea… Yes, Yes,Yes!!! some people burn wood in some form and nither matter. except for your other electric usage, which would be cheaper…
Angus King, Stacy Fitts, Voorhees, Kurt Adams, Baldacci, Du Hoax,Mr and Mrs Hinck,
…..oh forgot , you said “Who in their right mind” would support electric heat, by wind…
These are all scamming , delusional self – servers at the wind subsidy trough….sorry, I stand corrected
Electric hot water heaters with a cold start boiler is cheaper and uses less oil. You can shut the boiler down all summer, save about 400 gallons a year on oil when the boiler is on stand by or heating water. It does make sense with 3.50 a gallon oil.
Way to go Mr. Lepage. Keep up the good work.
All these ideas seem reasonable to me.. Thank you Governor Paul LePage!!!
Agree. Lets stop subsidizing the wind industry with billions of taxpayer dollars. Let the energy sectors perform based on the free-market. So stop subsidizing the oil and gas industries as well. They don’t need it.
The inefficient wind industry not only receives billions of taxpayer subsidies, which drives up our huge budget deficit, but it also results in higher electric rates! Why would anyone be in favor of doing that??
They are in favor because —-Self-serving subsidy wind thieves abound in Maine. Angus (leech the public) King , Kurt Adams, Rep. Fitts, Rep Hinck, Rep. Du Hoax, and on.
Delusional, self-serving, subsidy seeking snake oil wind salesmen will oppose this energy initiative of course.
Those being Angus King, Kurt Adams, Rep Fitts, Rep Hinck and Mrs First Wind Juliot Hinck Browne, Rep Du Hoax,Dylan “Save the earth the Sky is falling NRCM Voorhees, Nagusky, etc..
Self-serving, scamming, bottom- dwelling monetary self -serving federal subsidy seekers will be united in opposition to this bill.
They enjoy feeding at the subsidy trough, screwing the public with their Wind Lobby friends First Wind et al.
That is the Maine Opposition to LaPages common sense rational approach.
LePage’s plan has another problem though besides the above named sudsidy thieves, it relies on common sense, which is mostly lacking in Maine politics these days.
Well Said!!!
“Altogether, I think these bills that have been introduced [late] in the legislative session are anti-consumer, anti-long-term economic development and are pro-utilities,” said Dylan Voorhees, who oversees the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s clean energy program.
I suspect that the NRCM’s real concern is that their mountain top wind development agenda might take a hit. The NRCM seems much less concerned with ratepayers and the environment than they do with simply fulfilling the goals of their own campaign. Did you notice that all of the Voorhees comments deal with economics. When did economics become a marquee issue for the NRCM?
Voorhees knows nothing of economics having never even had a real job his whole life.
Go get em Paul, your job is to bring the lowest cost energy and lower rates.
Get rid of Efficiency Maine which is yet another special interest scam.
and what the heck does Dylan Vorees know about power, he isnt an Engineer, he should shut his yap!
Competition is good. Let’s get hydropower back into the picture.
Let’s not forget our own hydro potential, either. How many people remember when CMP displaced three whole villages to dam the Dead River and flood the Flagstaff valley? The Long Falls Dam has existed for 60 years, but it isn’t used to generate power for the people of Maine. Why not?
There are many flood control dams already in place on Maine rivers, too. Any environmental damage was done decades ago. How easy would it be to retrofit those with turbines? It seems senseless to build hundreds of miles of high voltage transmission lines (which CMP ratepayers will pay for) and hundreds of miles of mountaintop wind turbines (which rate-payers AND taxpayers will pay for)when hydro is dependable, already built and able to be stored–three things wind is NOT.
Let’s put all the options on the table and let Mainers decide. That is democratic and it makes fiscal sense. And let’s also not fool ourselves into believing that ‘wind’ in Maine is a Maine-owned resource and that it will make us ‘energy independent’. That is a tag line used by the industry to sell their product, but it is very misleading. One only has to look at the countries of origin for some of the state’s biggest wind developers to see that. CMP/Iberdrola, from Spain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates…and First Wind, formerly from Italy, who was connected tothe largest seizure of Mafia assets in history, $1.9 billion, from ‘Lord of the Wind’ Vito Nicastri, who was connected to Matteo Messina Denaro, Mafia “boss of bosses”, Forbe’s World’s Ten Most Wanted.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mafias-dirty-money-linked-to-clean-energy-2080467.html
And Emera, the company which wants to purchase First Wind, is Canadian (just like those who own Quebec Hydro)…as is Trans-Canada, which is not only the owner of the Kibby wind project in northern Franklin County, but is also the oil giant involved in the controversial tar sands extractions in Canada.
There are layers and layers to this energy issue, but I believe the Governor wants to try to level the playing field in the area of price. If Canadian hydro can compete and wants to, shouldn’t Mainers have the right to choose?
I believe we should.
Resp[ectfully,
Karen Pease
Lexington Twp., Maine
“Currently, all of these projects must provide evidence that they are a proper investment of taxpayer funds, producing the maximum amount of energy in an efficient and responsible manner “Maybe, Member of Congress, Michaud doesn’t read current news. How many of these alternative energy schemes have managed to make taxpayer money disappear . Investments = billions, taxpayer returns = zero. Another energy dunce drinks
off th G
do u stop at Irvings?
and on site solar
or tap into water line with 200 feet of black house. summer = sun / winter – above heat source.
these names need front lining
tell him how, but, do not work as a shill for GRID scale WIND
how?
keep it simple….one room at a time? more blankets???
There are three foxes in the hen house sitting on the Energy and Utilities committee doing the bidding of big failing desperate wind:
Jon Hinck
Alex Cornell du Whatever
Stacet Fitts
See:
http://www.windtaskforce.org/photo/abstain-for-maine?context=latest
NRCM, this bunch of lightweights who couldn’t survive in the jungle or the private sector finance their fraudulent jobs by taking money from corporations who need NRCM’s seal of approval to hide their sins. They are typical sellouts. Don’t take anything seriously if it comes from these mercenary greenwash guns for hire. Pathetic little existences they lead.
Something must be done soon or the wind developers will sprawl their 500 foot tall towers all over the state. At least LePage is not buying the pro wind misinformation the NRCM has subscribed to. Thibodeau seems to get it, but there are Hinck, Fitts, and du Houx with vested interests on the committee who are for windsprawl whatever the costs. That is bad for Maine. I guess they do not care.