Maine

The bill also increases the potential number of subscribers at community solar installations to 50. But with Governor LePage expected to veto the bill, the fight has just begun.

A bill which would return an essential feature of the state’s net metering policy has passed the Maine Senate, but has a long road ahead of it.

Solar installers and advocates are stunned that they now only have three weeks to install systems for homeowners before their customers are hit with new, less generous net metering rules.

Quaker Meetings, in conjunction with Speak Truth To CMP, staged a protest at Central Maine Power’s headquarters to protest what it calls the utility’s attempts to undermine solar in the state.

Environmental groups are pushing back on both the dismantling of net metering and increased interconnection fees on solar owners, in the courts and in public hearings.

Local advocates blasted the program and state regulators, calling on lawmakers to use the opportunity to repeal the rule.

The Pine Tree State’s Public Service Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing on December 12 to discuss the proposed changes to the fee schedule for Central Maine Power.

The 4.6 MW-AC project will supply 20% of the power for a municipal utility in Central Maine.

After more than a year of wrangling and a veto by an intractably anti-solar governor, the Pine Tree State’s legislature split over whether to override the veto of the bill that ensconces into law a long-term solar compensation plan. As a result, the bill dies.

A first phase of the 9.9 MW project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, as one of the first under a 50 MW pilot community-owned renewables program.