Matt McGillvray, Author at Solar for ME

Time for lawmakers to override solar veto

July 17, 2017 by Matt McGillvray

Via the Portland Press Herald, the editorial board speaks out about the need for the Maine legislature to override Governor Paul LePage’s veto of L.D. 1504, Maine’s solar bill:

The governor maintains his opposition to solar power, again claiming that he is protecting the poor and elderly from being taken advantage of by people rich enough to afford solar panels.

The good news is that the governor has the facts wrong. The PUC commissioned an economic study two years ago that shows that all ratepayers benefit from a more dependable grid that results from distributed generation of solar power.

The bad news is that the governor doesn’t care if he’s got the facts wrong. His opposition to solar energy is personal and political rather than economic. LePage had no problem making the poor and elderly pay a little more on their electric bills when he wanted to finance a natural gas pipeline to buy above-market-price power from failing biomass plants. He will keep fighting regardless of what the facts are.

Meanwhile, other states are benefiting from a clean energy boom created by plummeting prices for solar panels. It’s lowering utility bills for individuals and businesses while creating jobs. Maine could get a piece of that action if lawmakers – especially Republicans in the House of Representatives – stand up to the pressure and hold firm to the votes they cast last month.

Net Metering Solar Energy Compromise Heads to LePage with Enough Support to Withstand Veto

June 28, 2017 by Matt McGillvray

Via the Bangor Daily News: On Wednesday, the Maine Senate and House of Representatives voted to approve a solar policy that would prevent some of the disastrous effects of the PUC’s net metering ruling earlier this year from happening.

But the bill keeps some of those rules in place, including a controversial plan to decrease the credits given to homes and businesses with solar power installations.

The amended bill approved Wednesday addresses short-term issues around the policy called net metering, in which utility customers with power generation systems can receive credits for energy they send to the grid.

It leaves the longer-term planning to the Maine Public Utilities Commission. The bill directs the commission to come up with a report about how to transition away from net metering before lawmakers convene for the 130th Legislature, in 2019.

Read more about the compromise and its effects on Mainers here: bangordailynews.com

Powerful interests shaping fate of Maine’s solar industry

June 17, 2017 by Matt McGillvray

Via the Bangor Daily Times: ReVision Energy founding partner Fortunat Mueller discussed the current legislative effort to halt the Maine PUC decision earlier this year:

Fortunat Mueller is not a fan of a decision on solar energy that the Maine Public Utilities Commission made earlier this year. “It’s expensive, it’s largely unworkable and it’s probably illegal.”

Mueller, one of the founding partners of the Maine-based solar company ReVision energy, is referring to the PUC’s decision to phase out credits given to residential customers who sell solar-generated electricity back to the power grid.

The commission devised a new system it said would free consumers who do not have solar power from subsidizing those who do, but would still help homeowners recoup upfront investments in solar arrays, which are getting cheaper every year.

Critics, including Mueller, want lawmakers to nullify the regulators’ plan, before it goes into effect next year. “So it’ll be challenged in court even it does survive. So what we’re asking the Legislature to do is not let this rule go into effect.”