The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved a pilot program to test alternatives to building a new transmission lines in the midcoast region. The agreement between the Efficiency Maine Trust, GridSolar, the Maine Public Advocate, the Conservation Law Foundation, and Environment Northeast supports what is termed “a smart-grid” pilot project in the Boothbay region.

“We support this pilot because we believe that it will show that there are lower-cost ways to meet the same need that would be served by a new transmission line,” said Eric Bryant, counsel in the Public Advocate’s Office.

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ORPC's tidal turbine prototype on display in Portland. Photo by Ramona du Houx

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has determined the contract terms and directed three utilities to negotiate with Ocean Renewable Power Co.(ORPC) to put the company’s tidal power electricity onto the grid this summer. The company’s all-composite tidal turbines will be the first tidal project to be connected to the grid in Maine. The composite technology was developed in partnership with the University of Maine.

“This is the first long-term power purchase agreement for tidal energy in the United States,” said ORPC CEO Chris Sauer . He says the contract will cover a term of 20 years.

ORPC intends to install its first underwater turbine unit this summer in Cobscook Bay off Eastport. The first turbine unit will be capable powering 20 to 25 homes.

ORPC plans to install its full-scale tidal turbine unit at the same location over the next two years powering up more than 1,000 homes by 2016.

Maine's electic customers can now choose alternative energy sources as their suppliers. graphic by Ramona du Houx

Today, the Maine Public Utilities Commission and 3Degrees, a leading renewable energy provider, announced Maine Green Power, a new, statewide green power program. This voluntary program gives Mainers the opportunity to purchase locally produced renewable energy.

“Maine has abundant hydro, wind, biomass and other renewable energy resources,” said Commission Chairman Thomas Welch. “Maine Green Power will enable our state’s residents and businesses to encourage further local development of these resources by choosing to power their homes and businesses with renewable energy generated in Maine.”

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Moose crossing a road at one of First Wind's Maine wind farm sites

First Wind announced that it has obtained $76 million in construction financing for its 34 megawatt (MW) Bull Hill Wind project in Hancock County, Maine. With financing in place, First Wind will start major construction activities on the project, which will have the capacity to generate enough clean energy to power about 18,000 homes.

“We are excited to complete the financing and start construction of the Bull Hill Wind project, which will be our fifth wind project in Maine to achieve commercial operations,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. “We appreciate the commitment of our financial partners, and we are grateful for the support the project has received from the businesses, citizens and political leadership of Hancock County along with our project partners across the state and the region. The Bull Hill Wind project will expand our capacity to generate clean, renewable energy in Maine to nearly 220 megawatts, and we are proud to boost the local economy during the construction as well as through the ongoing operations of the project.”

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Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director of NRCM, Phil Coupe of ReVision Energy, and Lisa Pohlmann the Executive Director of NRCM announce the use of solar panels for NRCM

The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organization, has begun powering its Augusta headquarters with solar energy. NRCM partnered with ReVision Energy, a leader in solar design, installation, and service in Northern New England, to install solar panels on the roof of NRCM’s headquarters in Augusta as part of an innovative agreement. The agreement called for ReVision Energy to install the panels, while NRCM will pay the company for the power generated from the system at a rate per kilowatt-hour that is two cents less than a normal electric bill.

“NRCM always tries to find new and exciting ways to celebrate Earth Day, but I think this year’s celebration takes the cake,” said Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director for NRCM. “The solar panels on our roof are making an immediate difference in our environment, as well as our electricity bills at NRCM. The innovative power purchase agreement with ReVision Energy has made this project a reality for us. It is enabling us to take significant steps forward in terms of clean energy, in a building where protecting Maine’s environment is a top priority.”

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Taking an energy assessment of heat loss

“Mainers should not wait until next winter to fix their homes,” said Richard Burbank, owner of Evergreen Home Performance in Rockland. “High heating oil process and a cold winter next heating season could devastate homeowners in Maine. Now is the time to weatherize.”

Burbank was taking part in a press conference that highlighted Efficiency Maine’s new loan program, PowerSaver, which offers a 4.99 percent rate for weatherization projects that meet energy efficiency standards.

“Now is the time to plan ahead,” said Efficiency Maine’s Executive Director Michael Stoddard. “Just within this past decade the cost of heating fuel has gone up by 300 percent.”

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The University of Maine has been named one of the top scorers in the annual Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition, and was one of only 16 profiled institutions named to its Green Honor Roll for receiving energy-efficiency and sustainability ratings of 99 — the highest possible score.

“The University of Maine has long recognized its leadership role in promoting and actively pursuing environmental stewardship,” said University of Maine President Paul Ferguson. “At UMaine, going green is not just a philosophy, but a way of life, from our four LEED-certified buildings to our Green Campus Initiative.”

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Lawmakers in the Maine House of Representatives today dealt a major blow to Governor Paul LePage’s hydro power energy proposal, which Democrats argued would only benefit Hydro Quebec.

In a vote of 75 to 66, the House rejected LD 1863, which would allow certain power generators, like large-scale Canadian hydro-power producers, to benefit from participating in Maine’s renewable energy portfolio, which encourages the purchase of alternative energy power.

“The Governor’s hydro proposal would take money from Maine people and hand it to a government-owned company in another country,” said Rep. Jon Hinck, who is the lead House Democrat on the Energy committee. “This would do nothing to lower Maine energy prices but would certainly benefit Hydro Quebec.”

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Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) has been granted a $100,000 federal award to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy consumption and implement renewable energy technologies.The grant will enable KVCC to provide renewable energy development assistance for at least 140 agricultural producers and rural small businesses across Maine over the next two years.

“Work funded under this grant will support the delivery of a high level of renewable energy technical assistance to farms and small rural businesses throughout the state,” said Dana Doran, Director of Energy Programs at KVCC. “This assistance will help Maine farmers and small rural business owners save energy, improve their environment, and strengthen their bottom lines.”

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Mars Hill wind farm - the first commercial wind project in the state of Maine

Mars Hill has produced more than 627,000 megawatt-hours of energy and generated approximately $2.5 million in tax revenue for the town of Mars Hill since March 27, 2007. First Wind’s 42 MW Mars Hill Wind project supplies clean, renewable energy to local ratepayers in northern Maine.

The Mars Hill project, which cost about $90 million to develop and build, generates enough power for an average of 20,000 Maine homes each year. New Brunswick Power purchases all of the power and it is distributed to homes and businesses in Northern Maine. Reflecting the cost-competitiveness of wind energy with traditional fossil fuel sources, New Brunswick Power was recently able to offer a 10-20 percent discount in its standard offer service in the Mars Hill service territory.

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