Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine
Christopher Kessler of South Portland Moves to Shut Down Natural Gas Power Plants in Maine
Christopher Kessler of South Portland Moves to Shut Down Natural Gas Power Plants in Maine
Representative Kessler, a Democrat, and about to be termed out as a legislator has a going away present for Maine ratepayers.
He presented his plan in LD 2037 to the Environment and Natural Resource Committee.
First, consider how important natural gas power is important to Maine. The Chart below is how power is generated in Maine. Natural gas plants generated 45.8% of all electricity generated in Maine.
RGGI, which is the topic of LD 2037 caps emissions from 4 natural gas plants in Maine.
1. Westbrook Energy Center
2. Bucksport Generation. LLC
3. Rumford Power
4. Maine Independence Station
These four generators emitted 2,510,967 metric tons of C02 in 2024 and produced 6,399,000 megawatts of electricity.
Kessler's bill caps emissions according to following chart:
For the year 2027, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 2,065,595 tons
For the year 2028, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 1,807,395 tons
For the year 2029, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 1,549,196 tons
For the year 2030, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 1,290,997 tons
For the year 2031, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 1,032,797 tons
For the year 2032, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 774,598 tons.
For the year 2033, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 516,399 tons.
For the year 2034, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 442,627 tons.
For the year 2035, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 368,856 tons.
For the year 2036, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 295,085 tons.
For the year 2037 and each subsequent year, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 221,314 tons.
For the year 2028, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 1,807,395 tons
For the year 2029, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 1,549,196 tons
For the year 2030, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 1,290,997 tons
For the year 2031, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 1,032,797 tons
For the year 2032, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 774,598 tons.
For the year 2033, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 516,399 tons.
For the year 2034, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 442,627 tons.
For the year 2035, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 368,856 tons.
For the year 2036, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 295,085 tons.
For the year 2037 and each subsequent year, the base annual carbon dioxide emissions budget is 221,314 tons.
What is Kessler, the Environment and Natural Resource Committee and the Democrats of the Maine House of Representatives thinking?
Do they really think that wind, solar and batteries can replace natural gas production by reducing their output with arbitrary caps that will send the price of electricity soaring? The Maine DEP, the enforcers of these caps have penalties for exceeding the cap ;
Penalties for Exceeding the Cap:
- Fines: If a plant fails to surrender enough allowances, they face significant daily fines, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 per day, with higher minimums for intentional violations.
This is on top of payments that natural gas plants pay for each megawatt hour they produce from zero up to the cap.
So, for 2024 with an average cost applied per ton of emission of $22.09, Maine natural gas plants were charged 2,510,967 tons times $20.09 per ton equals $50,445,327. This charge is applied to the supply portion of monthly electric bills. ISO-NE reports that RGGI costs contributed just over $910 million( about 9% ) to wholesale energy costs which totaled $10.2 billion dollars.
This is a cost Maine ratepayers should not be paying and one simple bill to refund this RGGI money back to Maine ratepayers needs to be presented by a legislator, even if it is just to expose the disoriented and hapless Democrats, who will vote against it.
Kessler's bill is designed to shut down natural gas plants in Maine, plain and simple, yet there is no way to replace this generation as rapidly as these caps are being lowered.
Chris Wright of the Department of Energy who holds a position that directs FERC who directs ISO-NE issued an order that plants in New England must operate even if the C02 emitted exceeds RGGI Caps because of the Emergency Conditions brought about by the cold snap.
This RGGI program is a bust. The grown ups in charge will not comply with the shut down of natural gas plants. Something has to give. Governor Mills and the Democrats must surrender their ideology of climate change as most people in the nation are not buying it any longer. It is not AFFORDABLE!
Dan McKay
The EPA administrator declared C02 a dangerous substance in 2009. The current EPA administrator is declaring that C02 is not dangerous. RGGI is now a illegal program that should be shut down.
on Thursday
Long Islander
About Christopher J. Kessler
Rep. Chris Kessler is serving his fourth term in the Maine House of Representatives. He is a senior member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.
As a professional energy auditor, Kessler is a steadfast advocate for energy efficiency and renewable energy. In addition to helping administer South Portland's former Low-Income Weatherization Program, he was appointed to the Maine Climate Council, which is charged with developing a long-term plan to address the impacts of climate change on Maine, build resilience to climate effects and meet state statutory targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Kessler is also a strong tenants’ rights advocate. He was the catalyst behind South Portland's housing security ordinance, and has successfully passed legislation to improve protections for tenants, one of which was recognized by the Biden-Harris Administration.
https://www.maine.gov/housedems/kesslerc
on Friday