“The Governor’s veto is a giant step backward for clean energy in New Hampshire,” said Melissa Birchard, Senior Attorney at CLF. “Our leaders should be doing everything possible to move us away from dirty fossil fuels, not standing in the way of real progress towards clean energy. Communities across New Hampshire overwhelmingly support this bill, and our legislators must listen to constituents and override this senseless veto.”
“Mainers have a right to affordable, clean energy,” said Emily Green, Staff Attorney at CLF. “Strong solar policy helps create jobs, protects our environment, and can lower our energy bills. This bill puts the interests of residents and businesses first, and clears the way for Maine’s clean energy future.”
Siting solar energy projects can be a challenge in a small, dense state like Rhode Island; state guidelines can help solve problems before they start.
“Storing energy inside our homes is a win for New Hampshire residents and the environment,” said Melissa Birchard, Senior Attorney at CLF. “Today’s decision will help families save money on their electric bills and keep the lights on when winter storms inevitably strike. We must continue to find innovative ways to reduce climate-damaging emissions and encourage clean energy over polluting fossil fuels.”
“It is senseless to punish solar panel owners for generating their own electricity, and today’s ruling finally recognizes that fact,” said Emily Green, Staff Attorney at CLF. “This regressive policy burdened businesses with unnecessary fees and thwarted efforts to expand solar energy in Maine. Clean, job-creating solar will help end our addiction to dirty fossil fuels and we must do more to encourage it, including eliminating this senseless fee for homes and small businesses next.
With the election of Attorney General Janet Mills, Maine has the chance to reverse the harmful LePage administration anti-environment policies and commit to a broad framework for tackling climate change.
“The rules put forth by the LePage administration are a giant step backward for solar power,” said Sean Mahoney, Executive Vice President and Director of CLF Maine. “Mainers overwhelmingly support solar and other renewable energy sources. These policies disincentivize homeowners from making the necessary investments at a time when it is more important than ever for the state encourage development in Maine’s fast-growing clean energy sector.”
“What this means for New Englanders is that there is less need than ever for new fossil fuel infrastructure (including both new natural gas pipelines and new fossil fuel power plants) as more and more lower cost renewables replace older, higher-cost fossil fuel power plants,” writes Jerry Elmer.
April 21, 2018 was an historic date for the New England power grid: It was the first time that mid-day peak energy demand from the power grid was lower than at the lowest point overnight. The reason for this historic first is the effectiveness of energy efficiency and the combined output of 130,000 small, medium,… Continue reading April 21, 2018: Renewable Energy Makes History in New England
One of Governor LePage’s first official acts was to erect a sign on the New Hampshire border of the Maine Turnpike proclaiming that Maine is “OPEN FOR BUSINESS.” Unfortunately, LePage has not lived up to that promise. His most recent veto of legislation designed to undo damage to the solar industry in Maine while enhancing… Continue reading Maine’s Legislature Fails to Move State Forward on Solar
