Maine

Belgrade extends development moratorium, blocking solar and wind farms for another 180 days: According to the Morning Sentinel, residents at a Belgrade Town Meeting voted to extend the Town’s development moratorium by 180 days. The moratorium prevents applications for various developments from being accepted, including for solar and wind farms. Before opening for such applications, …

Continue reading “Other Maine News of Note December 6, 2021”

The Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee is holding a confirmation hearing on February 8, 2021, at 1:00 PM to consider the appointment of Melanie Loyzim by Gov. Janet Mills as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (see Flash Update 86.6). The hearing will be available for viewing here. In addition, the Joint Energy, …

Continue reading “ENR, EUT Committees to hold February 8 and 9 confirmation hearings for Efficiency Maine Trust Board and DEP appointees on February 8 and 9, respectively”

Bristol Planning Board to consider DG projects permit applications: According to Lincoln County News, the Bristol Planning Board is considering permit applications for two community solar facilities developed by MidCoast Solar, LLC. The article noted that the solar facilities would enroll in the net energy billing program and be smaller than 5 MW (as required …

Continue reading “Other Maine News of Note August 24, 2020”

On April 18, 2019, the Joint Energy, Utilities, and Technology (EUT) Committee scheduled work sessions for the following bills for April 24 at 9:00 am in room 211 of the Cross Building: On April 17, 2019, the Joint Energy, Utilities, and Technology (EUT) Committee announced that it will hold public hearings on April 24 at …

Continue reading “EUT Committee schedules April 24 hearings on 100% renewable electricity for State buildings and draft concept bills”

On January 29, 2019, the Joint Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee will hear the two following bills at 1:00 pm in Room 211 of the Cross Building: On January 31, 2019, the Joint Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee will hear the following bill at 1:00 pm in Room 211 of the Cross Building:

On June 9, 2017, the Northeast Wind Resource Center is hosting a conference on the State of Wind Energy “to discuss onshore and offshore wind power on a national, regional, and state level”. The event will be held from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Abromson Center- Hannaford Hall, USM, 88 Bedford Street, Portland. The event …

Continue reading “Northeast Wind Resource Center hosting State of Wind Energy event June 9”

During the past week, the following bills were filed with the Maine State Legislature: LD 1352 – An Act to Advance Locally Owned Solar Energy Systems – As introduced, this bill requires the PUC to issue a request for proposals to procure 35 MW of grid-scale solar electricity. This bill requires that one project be 10 MW …

Continue reading “New bills filed regarding grid scale solar procurement”

As last reported in Special Flash Update 54.1.5, the Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee has recently been holding hearings on LD 1339, LD 1315, and LD 1513 (described below). LD 1339 – An Act to Provide Relief to Maine Ratepayers This bill would: Require the PUC to reject all bids for standard offer service if no bid …

Continue reading “EUT Committee to Continue Hearings on Three Relevant Bills February 9 & 11”

According to the weekly agenda posted on the EUT website, two work sessions were held this week to discuss bills related to renewable energy. On February 2, 2016, the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee held a work session where they discussed the following bill: LD 1339 – An Act to Provide Relief to Maine Ratepayers This bill …

Continue reading “Joint Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee Holds Work Sessions Regarding Utility Generation Asset Ownership Bills February 4”