Maine’s Energy Policy Looks to be Going Up in Smoke
By Tux Turkel is a former staff writer at the Portland Press Herald covering energy issues. At dawn on a December morning from where I live, I can see Maine’s failing energy policies drifting out into the frigid air. Across Casco Bay, I see smoke rising from the 421-foot chimney at Wyman Station in Yarmouth. This […]
Electricity Rates for Mainers are Going Up Because More Natural Gas is Being Sold Overseas
By Tux Turkel, tuxturkel@gmail.com Most Maine homes and small businesses can expect the cost of their electricity supply to go up in January. Nine out of 10 Maine homes receive their electricity supply through the state-run standard offer program. They’re likely to see an estimated 15 percent or so jump in rates, according to an […]
New England Legislative Updates: Balancing Renewable Goals with Energy Affordability
By Thea Aslanian, Energy Analyst Introduction and Background Across New England, state legislatures are rebalancing ambitious climate goals with rising concerns over energy affordability. Costs of living in the Northeast have risen 3% year-over-year as of June, with household energy costs rising almost 13%. In the first half of 2025, several states passed major reforms […]
GOP Push to End Maine Solar Subsidies, But Lawmaker Says It’s Unlikely
By Stephen Singer, Portland Press Herald How much to pay solar power developers has been an issue in Augusta for years and has emerged again as costs soar for some businesses. Republicans in the Maine Legislature on Thursday urged the repeal of solar and other clean energy subsidies they say are driving up the cost […]
Offshore Wind in New England
By Charlotte Del Col, Associate Manager of Analytics Offshore wind energy is a complex and often polarizing technology, but it also has incredible potential to meet renewable energy goals and has become a critical part of many renewable energy roadmaps and state renewable portfolio standards (RPS).[1] China currently has the largest number of online offshore […]
New Subsidies in 2024 Could Boost Already-Prevalent Heat Pumps in Maine
The infusion of federal dollars could expand implementation further in the state, where the market has been thriving. Stephen Singer, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald Eben Perkins says his South Portland house used to feel like a “sub-zero tundra” in winter. After shoring up the insulation a few years back, he and his wife installed […]
Varcoe: Enmax to Stay in Maine, as Voters Reject State-Ownership of Calgary Company’s U.S. Utility
By Chris Varcoe, Calgary Herald Enmax and Versant contributed $16 million to the political action committee Maine Energy Progress, which opposed the referendum question, the state’s ethics commission website indicates Calgary’s Enmax Corp. celebrated a ballot-box victory of sorts this week, although it took place thousands of kilometres from home. The city-owned corporation won’t be […]
Home Heating Prices in Maine Stable as Winter Approaches
By Stephen Singer, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald Oil prices are down from previous highs and propane inventories are strong, boding well for Mainers as winter approaches, energy experts said at a recent gathering in Portland. “We’re in a good position as we’re heading into this coming winter,” Charlie Agnew, director of energy services at […]
Relief Expected for Maine Utility Customers
By Tux Turkel Though rates may drop, there’s plenty of uncertainty surrounding the PUC procurement process that starts in mid-November. After enduring record-high electricity supply rates this year, most Maine households will start seeing some welcome relief in January, based on recent declines in other New England states and projections by Maine energy experts. Some New […]
What it Will Take to Make the Energy Transition: A Talk by Richard Silkman
Competitive Energy Services’ CEO, Rich Silkman gave a talk in September 2023 to the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization focused on national policies to address the national and global climate crisis. View full recording below. Photo by: Gingbao Meng