PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 12, 2025
Watching the recent actions of the majority on the Maine Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, I can’t help but ask — do they really understand the damage they’ve set in motion? Their proposal (LD 1777) — gutting Maine’s net energy billing program and retroactively slashing benefits for community solar customers and developers — represents a staggering new direction. The public never even got the chance to weigh in on the final proposal since there were last-minute amendments added. It’s a move driven by the false narrative that solar is to blame for rising electric bills. The real reasons are soaring natural gas prices triggered by global events and the costs of recovery from extreme weather caused by burning fossil fuels. Solar is one of the most cost-effective ways to get energy onto the grid, especially in a time of urgent climate need and increasing energy demand. Is this really the legacy we want to leave for Maine’s energy future? ~ Cathy Breen, former state senator, Maine Conservation Voters