LePage opposes compromise to rapidly expand solar power

[jpak]

Source: Kennebec Journal

A compromise proposal to boost solar power development in Maine 12-fold over five years is being opposed by Gov. Paul LePage, casting a shadow over the hopes of clean-energy advocates and setting the stage for a fight in the Legislature.

The proposal, which is being drafted into a bill, has won the support of interest groups that don’t often see eye to eye. They include solar installers, Maine’s Office of Public Advocate and the state’s two investor-owned utilities, Central Maine Power Co. and Emera Maine. They are backing a plan that they say would create an estimated 800 jobs and help all ratepayers.

But staffers at LePage’s energy office who have participated in negotiations on the compromise have reached a different conclusion. They say the plan maintains subsidies for homeowners who install solar-electric panels on their rooftops at levels that hurt other ratepayers.

“We’re not opposed to solar,” said Lisa Smith, a senior planner in the energy office. “But we’re looking out for the cost to all ratepayers. We were in favor of a mechanism that went in a market-based direction, but this isn’t it.”

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Read more: http://www.centralmaine.com/2016/03/09/governor-opposes-grow-fast-solar-compromise/

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LePew = Koch Alec puppet

yup

[Yallow]

1. Drill Baby Drill Right You F-ing Pig Lepage

The valley where I grew up burns every year. 2 years ago we lost 300 homes, many of them belonged to my friends. They lived too far from a fire station, and didn't have insurance.

These people lost their homes because of actions from pigs like you.

Now if I said what I really thought they would arrest me asshole.

Solar and wind are the future, not drill baby drill, and frack baby frack.

I will stop here....

[rladdi]

2. This is what America will get if they elect GOP leaders. Our energy will be all coal burners, black

stinking coal dust. That is what the GOP wants. They are against anything clean. Anything that will create jobs. In a few Republican states solar power has had a battle, against closing down solar manufacturing plants, losing thousands of jobs, taxing home owners using solar power. GOP is doing everything to destroy clean air. water and our lands. They still think back 100 years.

[PotatoChip]

3. Ugh! I am SO sick of this petty dictator.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Prtty dictator?

You speak of LePage as if he were a Latin American military strongman.

He's not.

He's a corrupt Koch addict.

[PotatoChip]

8. Yeah, well that goes without saying.

Among many other things.

Worst Governor ever-- from my perspective.

[HeartoftheMidwest]

4. Solar power advocates battle Republican opposition, Part Umpteenth:

"New England is sharing in this movement, particularly in states where policies encourage solar energy. But in Maine, clean-energy advocates lament the lack of rebates and incentives, driven by LePage’s view that homeowners who can afford the upfront cost of installing solar panels are benefiting from the rates that power companies charge all of their customers to maintain the grid.

Advocates counter that the governor isn’t taking into account how all Mainers would benefit from solar power because of things such as cleaner air and job creation."

http://www.centralmaine.com/2016/03/09/governor-opposes-grow-fast-solar-compromise/


Ill-informed and under-educated Republican AGAIN attempts to block progress. /sigh

[jpak]

7. Proponents claim this law would result in the deployment of 250 MW of new ME solar

for a state with 1.3 million people - that's a lot.

[Botany]

5. Republicans should lose every race where they had input on this issue

In Nevada the repugs have all but stopped home solar.


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/01/opinion/nevadas-solar-bait-and-switch.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-5&action=click&contentCollection=Opinion®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article&_r=0

"The American Legislative Exchange Council, which drafts model bills for right-wing state legislators
and receives financial support from fossil fuel interests, has campaigned for rates like those the
commission adopted, and, according to Greenpeace, NV Energy was at one time an ALEC member."

[johnfunk]

9. LePew? or LePetomane?

He looks more like the original LePetomane!