PARIS — The town has swapped electricity providers in a bid to save money when rates are expected to increase early next year. Paris has locked into a 24-month deal with Electricity Maine at $0.095 per kilowatt hour for its small and medium commercial accounts, which covers electricity consumption from the fire station to its streetlights. The new […]
energy
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Study: Clean energy to be $1.9B industry in Maine by 2023
ORONO — Maine set an example for other states to follow in its renewable energy investments and growth during the past decade, according to a report released Monday by the Pew Charitable Trusts. “By establishing aggressive goals for clean and efficient energy, Maine is harnessing its renewable resources to create new job opportunities, attract investment […]
advertisement
Posted inBusiness, Maine
New federal analysis favors Maine biomass plants
LEWISTON — A new analysis by the federal Environmental Protection Agency may be good news for Maine firms that make electricity by burning wood, but some environmental groups are crying foul. The new EPA analysis, issued last week, suggests how the federal government will count greenhouse gas emissions from wood-fired biomass facilities, and an accompanying […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Efficiencies to pay for improvements to Lisbon buildings if approved
LISBON — Town leaders hope to make more than $2.5 million worth of improvements to public buildings if a local referendum passes on Tuesday. Voters will be asked to approve a lease/purchase contract, not to exceed 19 years, on Question 3 of the town ballot. The money will be federally subsidized and will employ a […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Economist expects Maine job growth to maintain slow but steady pace in 2015
Maine’s long-flagging economy will maintain a steady pace of recovery in 2015 as it continues to gain jobs in the wake of the Great Recession of 2008, according to Charles Colgan, a professor at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service and a former state economist. However, the state economy faces significant challenges […]
Posted inBusiness, Lewiston-Auburn
Homeowners, businesses to see higher electric bills
AUGUSTA — Winter’s coming, and electric bills are on their way up for mid-size businesses. For homeowners, higher bills will arrive in March. Electricity costs for mid-size businesses, such as a small sawmill or grocery store, are expected to more than double by January, from a typical $870 bill in September to $2,000 in January. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Cutler says state should buy Verso’s energy plant at Bucksport
PORTLAND, Maine — Eliot Cutler has called and written to the CEO of Memphis-based Verso Paper, asking for the company to sell its Bucksport mill to a buyer that would continue to make paper there. If not, the independent gubernatorial candidate said that as governor he would promote the state purchasing the energy assets to […]
Posted inSpecials
The homebuilding method you’ve never heard of that cuts energy bills up to 60 percent
For people building new homes in the coming months, the ever-increasing pain of monthly utility bills for cooling and heating their homes has them looking for more energy-efficient construction methods. In 2014, homeowners have been burdened with electricity costs that rose 5 percent, heating oil 7 percent and natural gas 10 percent, as reported in […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, New England, sj-web
Spectra, Northeast Utilities team up for $3 billion New England natural gas project
PORTLAND, Maine — The Houston-based Spectra Energy announced Tuesday that Northeast Utilities, New England’s largest electric utility, plans to be a co-investor in a $3 billion effort to expand two major natural gas pipelines in the region, one of which runs through Maine. Spectra’s pipeline expansion proposal was made public to a regional group coordinating […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
LePage says Maine energy too expensive, keeps wages low
ORONO — A week after L.L. Bean announced it will close its Bangor call center and on the same day that Verizon Wireless said it would add 90 customer service employees to its local facility, Gov. Paul LePage made a Wednesday visit to a third call center, where he said wages might be higher if […]