PARIS — Local corporation Bancroft Contracting has been recognized with a national award for its work on a major hydropower development project on the Penobscot River. The Associated General Contractors of America awarded Bancroft the Alliant Build America award at a ceremony in Las Vegas, Nev., earlier this month, one of 19 firms from across the […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislature blocks 2 bills targeting wind energy regulation
Maine Senate nixes bills to change wind power laws AUGUSTA — The Legislature has rejected two bills to change the state’s wind energy laws aimed at ensuring projects benefit the state economically and don’t hinder the beauty of the state’s natural resources. The Democratic-led Senate voted 21-14 on Thursday in favor of rejecting Republican Gov. […]
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Senate unplugs LePage bill to remove Maine’s cap on hydropower
More energy coverage: House passes bill with rebates for solar panels, heat pumps AUGUSTA — By a broad bipartisan margin, the state Senate on Wednesday again unplugged a proposal in which Republican Gov. Paul LePage sought to remove a 100-megawatt cap on hydropower, which is required in the state’s renewable energy portfolio. LePage has argued that […]
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House passes bill with rebates for solar panels, heat pumps
More energy coverage: Senate unplugs LePage bill to remove Maine’s cap on hydropower Key to the support was an amendment to the bill by state Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, that creates another rebate program for heat pumps when they are installed by low-income families. The measure allows up to a $2,000 rebate from the state. Harvell’s […]
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LePage says solar energy is adding to Maine’s electricity costs
HALLOWELL — Maine Gov. Paul LePage says environmental groups’ push to pick energy “winners and losers” is getting in the way of the state’s ability to lower electricity costs. The Republican governor’s remarks came Thursday at the Energy and Technology Council of Maine’s forum on regional energy infrastructure issues. LePage continued to criticize the Legislature […]
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LePage blasts Maine lawmakers on solar efforts
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday launched a fusillade of criticism against the Legislature’s Democratic majority for supporting bills that promote solar energy during one of the coldest winters in recent history. Rolling out a new proposal on energy, LePage said the focus of “liberal” lawmakers on solar is misguided because many Maine […]
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LePage wants to use timber funds to lower heating costs
AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s administration is pushing a proposal to use money generated from increased logging on public lands to fund a program designed to help residents reduce their energy bills. LePage criticized lawmakers Tuesday for stalling a similar measure introduced by Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson. He’s introducing a new bill this […]
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LePage bill to change Maine’s wind-energy policy moves tentatively forward
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s initiative to overhaul Maine’s wind-energy production goals to require ratepayer benefits and manufacturing jobs gained tentative approval in the Legislature’s Energy Committee on Friday. But the bill, LD 1791, sponsored by state Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, saw significant revisions, including allowing a section of current law to stand, prior to […]
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High court overrules PUC approval of wind energy deal
A 2012 deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars to expand wind energy projects across the Northeast was dealt a blow Tuesday by the Maine supreme court, which ruled that a state agency’s approval of the complex deal was invalid. The transaction included prominent wind developer First Wind, Maine utility companies Bangor Hydro and Maine […]
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LePage bill would remove wind energy goals
AUGUSTA — More than five years ago, Maine set ambitious goals to spur wind power development aimed at helping wean the state off fossil fuels. But now Republican Gov. Paul LePage says the targets don’t really help the state and are so far out of reach as to be meaningless, so why have them? A […]