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I have been monitoring the Maine 127th legislature's Energy, Utilities & Technology Committee this session

These are recordings of the February 12th meeting for those that have an Interest:

PUC Chairman addresses the EUT Feb 12, 2015 [segment 1 of 3] http://youtu.be/BI6CdBxrNPs

TransCanada & Public Advocate address the EUT Feb 12,…

Is This Possible in Maine too?

Is it all about the "Green"     $$$$$$$$$$$ ?…

In an examiner’s report filed with the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the commission’s staff recommended against designating GridSolar LLC as the state’s smart grid coordinator but directed the commission to solicit proposals to fill the role of solving transmission and distribution problems with new technologies, dubbed nontransmission alternatives.…

Like wind power, hydropower produces “green” energy that involves no carbon emissions into the atmosphere. But while wind turbines operate only when the wind blows, the regularity of tidal movement and river currents gives hydropower the added advantage of predictability, making it a much more reliable source of energy.…

EXCERPTS:

ALEXANDRIA — Opponents of new large-scale “industrial” wind plants in New Hampshire are bringing back an expert who they credit with helping to deter new wind-power developers with his 2013 claim that the state would see little, if any, benefits from wind power generation.

“Dr. Luce’s last appearance drew rave reviews and it was the basis for a lot of what happened,” she said. “He makes a lot of…

Opponents of a 148-megawatt wind farm in the Aroostook County town of Oakfield that broke ground in September are asking a federal judge to withdraw the project’s permit and require additional review to see if it harms endangered Atlantic salmon.…

  The top chart is net generation from Maine independent gas-fired power producers, such as the Westbrook ( Calpine ), Rumford (  Emera ) and Veazie ( Casco Bay Energy,…

The federal court usually starts very promptly so you should be there by a bit before 11 am.

Please attend if you can and support our Oakfield/Island Falls friends in Federal Court .

Relaying a message on behalf of Donna Davidge:…

EXCERPTS:  Did anyone hear a peep from Mr. Lee and all those Big Wind cheerleading organizations two years ago when, without debate or even a single NO vote, the Legislature increased the speed limit on I-95?  

In the most recent year of EPA data (2012) Electricity Generation accounted for only 10.8% of Maine's CO2 emissions.  But Transportation CO2 was responsible for a whopping 50.1% of Maine CO2 output. 

Since 2007, Maine, for the noble cause of…

New data shows that the “vanishing” of polar ice is not the result of runaway global warming

The “vanishing” of polar ice (and the polar bears) has become a poster-child for warmists.

  …

....... that is being foisted on consumers by the politically influential companies that make the hardware and software that are required for the smart-meter conversion. – Consumers Digest

....... In this poll, about 1/3 of the people who had Smart Meters installed had an increase in energy costs, and one quarter had them double, triple, or more.…

Hydropower is the first segment of the renewable energy sector that his administration is tackling during his second term.......

Though wind developers with more than 100 megawatts of capacity can qualify, other states in southern New England offer more generous renewable energy credits, which along with federal wind power production credits have fueled development in the state......…

Following are links to select articles from the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting which provide coverage of or related to the Maine PUC. The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting is a nonpartisan, non-profit news service based in Augusta focused on in-depth reporting serving the need of the Maine's citizens to be fully informed about the actions of their government and public servants.

With regard to the Maine PUC their mission (as published on their website)…

After years of dealing with the wind issue, I can say with sadness that Maine is a very dirty little state, politically.

It is a shame how unctuous political elites have manipulated the legislative process as it concerns the wind scam. 

Governor LePage should immediately place a halt to all further wind projects until  detailed cost/benefit analysis is undertaken of the wind industry in Maine.

In addition , an ethical…

That wind farm, known as Weaver Wind, would be built in Osborn and Eastbrook, if it gains the necessary approvals. Most of the turbines — 14 of them — would be located in Osborn, while eight would be located in Eastbrook.....Asked why First Wind is going so far beyond the mandated financial minimum with regard to community benefit funds, Baldwin said the company wants to show residents......…

 Although we often hear how natural gas makes up 50% of electrical generation in Maine, EIA data reveals Maine's natural gas plants do not run anywhere near 100% of the time and, in fact, in-state hydro out-produced natural gas generation for 2013 and trends would indicate the same for…

Jeremy Payne said renewable energy could provide a valuable hedge against the volatility of fossil fuel prices, as the prices of wind and solar don't spike and are actually trending downward....basically all of our clean energy investments have happened in rural Maine," said Payne. "These are areas that are starving for investment and starved for employment. This is a billion-dollar industry that is here today, and if we're not careful, it may not be here tomorrow."…

Scenic Cornwall... or (guess)... turbines. 

Longish read but of interest near bottom describing legal struggles the area is going through.  ...

Something of great interest following a recent link on this blog is as valid for Cornwell as for Maine...…

A bold new report has been released showing how Maine can become energy independent – if, by “energy independent,” we mean heavily dependent on government subsidies.

http://www.dailybulldog.com/db/opinion/politics-other-mistakes-rodent-logic/