Maine’s solar policy debate will come to head very soon, when lawmakers will be voting on LD1504, An Act Regarding Solar Power for Farms and Businesses. LD1504 (a Republican sponsored bill) would fix the Maine PUC’s disastrous solar net metering ruling. The PUC ruling, if allowed to take effect, would create an unheard-of tax on behind-the-meter solar generation… Read more
A big thank you to solar advocates throughout the Granite State, who helped convince the New Hampshire legislature to vote in overwhelming favor for SB129. This historic vote shows that there is wide bipartisan support for clean energy. Currently SB129 is waiting on Governor Sununu’s signature. Assuming it successfully passes, SB129 will: More than double… Read more
Although it has not been officially published, the Maine Public Utilities Commission issued a summary of its solar policy ruling and, as anticipated, it takes Maine’s solar policy in the wrong direction. Continuing to ignore the independent Value of Solar study approved by the PUC in 2015 and the clear directive of the legislature to develop policy… Read more
Ignoring its own Value of Solar study and the directive of the legislature to develop policy to accelerate solar energy investments and projects in Maine, the Maine Pubilic Utilities Commission has proposed a draft set of rules on net energy metering which would significantly weaken the economics of solar investments and slow down rather than… Read more
With ‘neXt metering’ out of the picture (for now), retail net metering remains the law of the land in Maine. Anyone who signs up to go solar today can apply for the same interconnection agreement for net metered solar as they could before, and our friendly front-end staff is ready and waiting to help move… Read more
New Hampshire: Net Metering Increase Signed by Governor Gov. Maggie Hassan has signed a bill raising the net metering cap in New Hampshire by 50MW, effectively breaking the logjam of customers on the waitlist to get new solar projects. Yah! Thank you to all solar advocates who’ve made a stand, and for the many diverse… Read more
Maine has made national headlines for its innovative proposed solar policy, which brought together interests as diverse as utility companies, ratepayer advocates, labor unions, environmental groups, municipal representatives, and solar installers to develop an evolution of net metering. Unfortunately, the widespread consensus shattered when the bill arrived in Maine’s legislature. Rep. Nathan Wadsworth (R-Hiram), who previously… Read more
Good Solar Bills Coming to Maine and New Hampshire Some important updates to our report last month on the state of solar policy in Maine and New Hampshire. New Hampshire: Net Metering Cap Increase On the Way A strong coalition of solar supporters came out on Fri 2/12 for the public hearing of HB1116, a bill… Read more
Maine has lacked any state-level policies to support solar since 2010, when a clerical error resulted in the elimination of the State’s rebate program for solar. Since then, solar advocates have worked tirelessly to come up with policy that allows the Pine Tree state to benefit from solar’s undeniable benefits: growth in the economy, improved… Read more
With all of these fights about net metering in the USA, you may be asking yourself, “Solar creates jobs, helps the environment, and helps people save money, why is this even an issue?” Solar presents a predicament for utility companies. Once someone has gone solar, their electric bill is reduced, if not eliminated (down to… Read more