Maine Delays Disastrous Anti-Solar Rule

Rule poses serious harm to Maine families, businesses

December 5, 2017 (PORTLAND, ME) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement today in response to the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) decision to delay the implementation of its new net metering rule until April 30, 2018. This new rule, originally intended to go into effect in January, would roll back current net metering policies that allow Maine families and businesses to get credit for extra energy they sell back to the grid.

“This senseless rule jeopardizes the growth of clean, local solar energy in Maine,” said CLF Maine Director Sean Mahoney. “Today the PUC pulled back to avoid an inevitable catastrophe. But delaying implementation doesn’t fix the fact that this rule hurts businesses and families, hampers our energy independence, and harms one of the fastest growing sectors of Maine’s economy. We need to eliminate this disastrous policy, not just procrastinate its implementation.”

CLF is currently fighting this rule at the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for December 13, 2017.

CLF experts are available for further comment.

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