Trying to slip one by - Maine lawmakers consider public funding for electric infrastructure

by Long Islander

21 hours ago

All for a ripoff unneeded Aroostook wind project to enrich Wall Street fat cats and the small group that ran First Wind (Just put First Wind into the search box if you are new. Also put in Sun Edison). And although all we hear about is the big potential Aroostook project, if that transmission line is built, it will open up numerous new possibilities for other wind projects along the way. This only happens in a world where the legislature and regulatory bodies are not looking out for ratepayers or taxpayers. Ditto for the media and so called self appointed environmental groups which have been 100% in the tank for wind developers since First Wind and Angus KIngs' wind projects first began desecrating Maine and costing its citizens $$$$$$.
Remember, when the shysters in the legislature tell you transmission is needed or wind is needed, when the point is pressed they often point to Maine's mandates for CO2 as the reason they are required. In other words, one BS law begets more BS and don't think they didn't plan it. These people need to be voted out of office and the sooner this happens, the better. They are soaking us and they take us for fools.
Related, see the earlier post on this: Reagan Paul Fighting the Democrats on Behalf of the Beleaguered Maine Electric Customers
 

Maine lawmakers consider public funding for electric infrastructure

Maine Public | By Peter McGuire
Published January 20, 2026 at 6:16 PM EST

Maine lawmakers are debating a new state agency that would use low-interest government borrowing to help pay for electric grid upgrades.

State Senator Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot, told a panel of lawmakers that the state needs new transmission lines to connect potential new power generation to the New England electric grid.

Electric customers shoulder the costs of expensive transmission projects, and a Maine Transmission Authority could use low-interest state bonds to reduce the price of development, Lawrence told a panel of lawmakers.

Maine has been an electricity consumer for the last century, Lawrence said. But new transmission to areas with the potential to make new power from resources including solar and wind could make the state into a electric generator for the region, he added.

"You've heard me long argue that Maine needs to go from being a consumer of electricity to being an exporter of electricity. That's the way we are going to reduce rates in the state of Maine and that's the way we're going to grow the economy in the state of Maine," Lawrence said.

As written, Lawrence's bill would give the authority extra powers, including the ability to take land through eminent domain and to offer financing for generation projects.

Lawrence told the committee he didn't mean for those provisions to be included and he wants the proposal to solely focus on financing for transmission..........................

Read the rest at https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-01-20/maine-lawmakers-consider-public-funding-for-electric-infrastructure

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  • Thinklike A. Mountain

    Maine Newspapers George Soros Alert
    https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/maine-newspapers-georg...

    16 hours ago

  • Dan McKay

    Bait and Switch
     
    The frump sponsor of this bill used the old "bait and switch" from entering it as a "Concept Bill" last year March 4, 2025. This bill had no language with it until January 14, 2026 and a public hearing was quickly scheduled for January 20, 2026. Even with 10 months between concept to actual language, the first thing the frump sponsor said at the public hearing was the bill's language, as written and documented, was immaterial. To all who had written testimony, a sense of wasted effort overtook them and some soon realized that Frump was using testimony given online to fabricate a new bill. A new bill that will never have to undergo another public hearing and could be hammered out amongst the usual gatherings of regulatory(PUC, Public Advocate); Governmental Agencies (Maine Department of Energy Resources, Efficiency Maine Trust, Maine Chamber of Commerce);  climate activists (Our Power led by Seth Berry, NRCM led by Jack Shapiro, The Nature Conservancy, The Sierra Club, Maine Climate Action Now). The Frump knows that CMP and Versant are willing to prove their expertise and see revenue streams and he will welcome their input. 
     
    The bill is now behind closed doors( this is when the work sessions and caucuses begin) to be worked over by the elites and our betters without any annoying people who know anything started in government, moved behind closed doors and is closed off to the people who will have to pay for it, will emerge from session with the rubber stamp of all Democrats and no Republicans.
     
    I was impressed with Tanya Blanchard of Preserve Maine and her courage to vehemently oppose his bill "as was written", before the last-minute decision by the frump sponsor to toss it. She deserves all our support as the frump sponsor will probably allow her to speak at work sessions and pull all his lawyer tricks upon her.
     
    These tactics of "Bait and Switch" and conducting public hearings on bills expressly tossed aside at the last minute before the hearing, only to resurrect them after the hearing for passage is an example of an atrocious and arrogant government. This bill because it will be rewritten requires a new public hearing. This was the obvious choice that should have been made before allowing any testimony to proceed. The Vice Chair should have called off testimony and rescheduled the public hearing, but she is a Democrat too and shows her bias whenever she can.
     
    It is now apparent, the only referees to this type of disgusting maneuvering are the people and their votes. 

    10 hours ago