Opinion: Let’s get the facts right in the solar debate

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 26, 2023

The op-ed by Gerry Chasse (“Solar program raising rates”) shows that common sense and good economic policy requires that established facts be reiterated. Maine’s solar resource, while lower than the Southwest desert states (considered the gold standard for solar resources), it’s not nearly as low as the author suggests. But the most ridiculous claim is that solar energy farms are heavily subsidized and cannot compete in a fair marketplace. From 1950-2010, oil, natural gas and coal interests received over $585 billion in federal subsidies while solar and wind (combined) account for only $74 billion (9% of the total). ~ John Gardner, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, Waterville