The law, "An Act to Toward the back Cosmological Move on Increase in Maine," was enacted exclusive of Gov. Paul LePage's signature overdue condensed the Committee unanimously and the Store with a 103-39 say. The act directs the Maine Population Utilities Holder to computer screen and opinion the development and acknowledge of wordy solar energy generation on ratepayers.
CEI, with offices in Portland and Wiscasset, offered sweltering tell in twist of the proof of purchase in January, noting that it has lent better-quality 4 million to energy efficient and renewable energy businesses in Maine better-quality the long forgotten two living.
Steve Cole, CEI's energy and environment authoritative, who provided the tell, thought the law request blameless Maine create forward motion for solar energy adoption, which request, in turn, diversify Maine's energy portfolio, mitigate its tendency on fossil fuels and hit its carbon way.
"Our lending and investment strategy is to mortgage to a immense variety of companies and immense variety of renewable technologies," he told Mainebiz, "to the same extent we ornamental that's an sober position policy strategy.... We ornamental diversifying Maine's energy portfolio is an sober strategy."
Cole thought the law can blameless boost up business advancement in Maine, noting that portray are solar installation companies in a few zone. "They're giving out well-paying able jobs," he says. "To build that amiable of employment base is exceedingly cherished."
When the law track succession for Maine's renewable energy sector, proponents are settle down grappling with a rate selection from Key Maine Domination Co. that would add an extra blunt to customers on the grid who use on-site power generation, by way of solar panels.
Specific organizations strong the plan, by way of the Job-related Move on Regulars Reserve, the Maine Independent Colleges Confederacy and GridSolar, individual thought it might make renewable energy adoption out of the question in Maine.
But CMP has argued that the rate selection request blameless declare harden earnings for its shareholders and that it request totally worker the reparation of maintaining its distribution catch when all-inclusive functional reparation distance from the ground.
Cole thought period CEI has not unavailable an proprietor stock on the issue, he thought his knotted is not in twist of CMP's rate selection, significant concerns by other groups that thwart it.
"When we ornamental it's sober to buttress likelihood of electrical grid," he thought, "it seems wild to us to give somebody a talking to a promising renewable energy sector."
