BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 16, 2025
Maine has made meaningful progress in the transition to a clean energy economy and net energy billing (NEB) has played a vital role. But now, the progress we’ve made is at serious risk. The Maine Legislature is considering a bill (LD 1777) that would retroactively change the terms of Maine’s NEB program. Changing the rules after towns, schools, and developers have already made investments isn’t just unfair, it threatens to cause real harm to Maine’s reputation as a place for clean energy investment. This legislation could send a chilling message to the very people and organizations we should be encouraging: towns that want to cut energy costs, businesses that want to go green, developers that want to bring solar projects — and jobs — to Maine. Maine has the chance to lead on climate and energy. But that leadership means creating stability, not chaos. It means encouraging participation in clean energy programs, not punishing those who’ve already signed up. ~ Cole Cochrane, Maine Youth for Climate Justice.