The importance of having firm generation capacity as opposed to non-dispatchable sources like wind power may be touched upon today in the discussion of LD 1313. As noted in FMM's most recent legislative update, LD 1313 would remove the referendum requirement for installing nuclear plants that are small. The idea in this Governor's bill is that we need firm generation capacity as opposed to non-dispatchable capacity. Next-generation nukes might provide viable options, so the Administration wants to "expedite" (for lack of a better term) their development.
Listen live on the Web
After clicking the link below, turn up your speakers and use the audio buttons immediately to the right of the words "Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee Room (EUT)".
http://legislature.maine.gov/committee/#Audio/211
Descriptions of the three audio buttons are as follows:
If they start late or take a break, there will be dead air.
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Committee On Energy, Utilities and Technology
Cross Building, Room 211, 287-4143
Public Hearing, Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 1:00 PM for about 4 hours
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From FMM:
If you're interested in stopping the onslaught of grid-scale wind energy in Maine, this week there will be four noteworthy public hearings and one work session. The hearings are all in the Utilities Committee. Click here for more information, and to contact committee members.
Back to Nukes?
LD 1313 would remove the referendum requirement for installing nuclear plants that are small. The idea in this Governor's bill is that we need firm generation capacity as opposed to non-dispatchable capacity. Next-generation nukes might provide viable options, so the Administration wants to "expedite" (for lack of a better term) their development.
Re-Write the Wind Act
LD 1314 would make wide improvements to Maine's energy plan, particularly with respect to failed wind energy policies, similar to LD 1329. This is also an Administration bill, and it includes much of what we have sought for years.
Re-restructuring
LD 1315 would allow utilities to own generation in
future (this would appear to exclude a CMP - Iberdrola Renewables pairing) affiliations, subject to strict standards and approvals. Outside of a policy world where fads and unsustainable methodologies get "into the mix" on the strength of their ability to lobby for mandates, the thinking is that utilities will make solid scientific decisions about generation investments.
Ratebuster
LD 1339 would give the PUC a legislative charge to reduce the Standard Offer price below 10 cents, even if that requires suspension of renewables mandates. It is likely to hit an army of the lobbyists mentioned in the LD 1315 description immediately above.
Scenic Impact Legislation
LD 911 had its public hearing last week, with a work session scheduled for this Wednesday in the Environment Committee. This is an excellent bill that was inspired by a State Energy Office report. It could protect Maine's most precious resources. At the hearing there was strong testimony in favor of Maine finally doing what the writers of the Wind Law never considered. To read FMM's testimony, click here. For more information on that committee, including how to contact members before they vote, click here.
FMM Seeks to Right the Wrongs of the Wind Law
FMM's bill is printed. LD 1329, sponsored by Representative Beth O'Connor, proposes several overdue changes. It has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing. Along with several other bills, some mentioned above, the legislature has some excellent ideas this spring for fixing the mess that is the Wind Law.
Status of the Two Citizens' Rights Bills
LD 791 is a Wind Lobby bill that incredibly seeks to expand the abilities of wind developers to run roughshod over rural Maine and its residents. The Agriculture Committee voted last week, with only four of the 13 members in favor. Find out how they voted here.
LD 828 is a citizen-written bill that seeks to restore the abilities of rural Mainers who need to have some control over wind development in their communities, like other Mainers have. Last week the Agriculture Committee decided to keep the bill alive so that they can continue working on it. To learn more about this important legislation and how you can contact the committee CLICK HERE. You might thank those nine legislators who voted to kill LD 791, and especially thank Senator Tom Saviello, who has been a leader in both the Agriculture Committee and the Environment Committee.
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Committee On Energy, Utilities and Technology
Members & Staff Senator David Woodsome of York, Chair R, Senate District 331156 Sokokis Trail
Waterboro, ME 04061
Phone: , e-mail: David.Woodsome@legislature.maine.govSenator Dawn Hill of York D, Senate District 35PO Box 701
Cape Neddick, ME 03902
Phone: 207-337-3689, e-mail: Dawn.Hill@legislature.maine.govSenator Garrett Mason of Androscoggin R, Senate District 22PO Box 395
Lisbon Falls, ME 04252
Phone: 207-577-1521, e-mail: Garrett.Mason@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Mark Dion of Portland, Chair D, House District 4345 Allison Avenue
PORTLAND, ME 04103
Phone: 207-797-6341, e-mail: Mark.Dion@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Christopher Babbidge of Kennebunk D, House District 884 Stratford Place
Kennebunk, ME 04043
Phone: 207-985-3332, e-mail: Chris.Babbidge@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Roberta Beavers of South Berwick D, House District 272 Woodland Hills
SOUTH BERWICK, ME 03908
Phone: 603-781-9529, e-mail: Bobbi.Beavers@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Jennifer DeChant of Bath D, House District 521008 Middle Street
Bath, ME 04530
Phone: , e-mail: Jennifer.DeChant@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Larry Dunphy of Embden R, House District 118PO Box 331
NORTH ANSON, ME 04958
Phone: 207-635-2831, e-mail: Larry.Dunphy@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Martin Grohman of Biddeford D, House District 129 Lisa Lane
Biddeford, ME 04005
Phone: , e-mail: Martin.Grohman@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Norman Higgins of Dover-Foxcroft R, House District 120PO Box 594
Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
Phone: , e-mail: Norman.Higgins@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Beth O'Connor of Berwick R, House District 592 Sullivan Street
BERWICK, ME 03901
Phone: 207-698-7899, e-mail: Beth.O'Connor@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Deane Rykerson of Kittery D, House District 11 Salt Marsh Lane
Kittery Point, ME 03905
Phone: , e-mail: Deane.Rykerson@legislature.maine.govRepresentative Nathan Wadsworth of Hiram R, House District 70PO Box 321
Cornish, ME 04020
Phone: , e-mail: Nathan.Wadsworth@legislature.maine.govBenjamin Frech, Committee Clerk Legislative Information Office
100 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: 287-4143, e-mail: Benjamin.Frech@legislature.maine.govDeirdre Schneider, OPLA Analyst Office of Policy and Legal Analysis
13 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: 287-1670, e-mail: Deirdre.Schneider@legislature.maine.govMORE EMAIL ADDRESSES
Beth O'Connor LIBERTYMOM1@MSN.COM Christopher Babbidge babbidge@roadrunner.com David Woodsome dcwoodsome@gmail.com Dawn Hill dawnhill@maine.rr.com Deane Rykerson rykersonforkittery@gmail.com Garrett Mason garrettpaulmason@gmail.com Jennifer DeChant jdechant@me.com Larry Dunphy SKIME2@ROADRUNNER.COM Mark Dion mndion@msn.com Martin Grohman martin.j.grohman@gmail.com Nathan Wadsworth NATHANWADSWORTH@HOTMAIL.COM Norman Higgins NORMEHIGGINS@GMAIL.COM Roberta Beavers rbbeavers@comcast.net
U.S. Sen Angus King
Maine as Third World Country:
CMP Transmission Rate Skyrockets 19.6% Due to Wind Power
Click here to read how the Maine ratepayer has been sold down the river by the Angus King cabal.
Maine Center For Public Interest Reporting – Three Part Series: A CRITICAL LOOK AT MAINE’S WIND ACT
******** IF LINKS BELOW DON'T WORK, GOOGLE THEM*********
(excerpts) From Part 1 – On Maine’s Wind Law “Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine if the law’s goals were met." . – Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, August 2010 https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/From Part 2 – On Wind and Oil Yet using wind energy doesn’t lower dependence on imported foreign oil. That’s because the majority of imported oil in Maine is used for heating and transportation. And switching our dependence from foreign oil to Maine-produced electricity isn’t likely to happen very soon, says Bartlett. “Right now, people can’t switch to electric cars and heating – if they did, we’d be in trouble.” So was one of the fundamental premises of the task force false, or at least misleading?" https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-swept-task-force-set-the-rules/From Part 3 – On Wind-Required New Transmission Lines Finally, the building of enormous, high-voltage transmission lines that the regional electricity system operator says are required to move substantial amounts of wind power to markets south of Maine was never even discussed by the task force – an omission that Mills said will come to haunt the state.“If you try to put 2,500 or 3,000 megawatts in northern or eastern Maine – oh, my god, try to build the transmission!” said Mills. “It’s not just the towers, it’s the lines – that’s when I begin to think that the goal is a little farfetched.” https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/flaws-in-bill-like-skating-with-dull-skates/
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We have the facts on our side. We have the truth on our side. All we need now is YOU.
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-- Mahatma Gandhi
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Hannah Pingree - Director of Maine's Office of Innovation and the Future
"Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine."
https://pinetreewatch.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/
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