Total proceeds for Maine to date are over $30 million

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), spearheaded by the Baldacci Administration in Maine, brought in $1,439,023.44 million to the state from the last cap and trade auction. To date Maine has made $30,178,278.45 in proceeds that have benefited various weatherization and energy efficiency programs in the state.

“Every dollar we keep in our region supports growth in local economies,” said David Littell, a Commissioner of the Maine Public Utilities Commission and Vice Chair of RGGI, Inc. “RGGI investments keep $765 million in our states by reducing fossil fuel expenditures. At the same time, we are reducing harmful pollution. This double impact—of enhancing local economies and reducing emissions—is what makes RGGI so effective.”

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President Barack Obama speaks after touring Sempra's Copper Mountain Solar 1 facility, Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in Boulder City, Nev. The president explained his energy agenda this week. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The President:
Now, under my administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years. (Applause.) That’s important to know. Over the last three years, I’ve directed my administration to open up millions of acres for gas and oil exploration across 23 different states. We’re opening up more than 75 percent of our potential oil resources offshore. We’ve quadrupled the number of operating rigs to a record high. We’ve added enough new oil and gas pipeline to encircle the Earth and then some.

So we are drilling all over the place — right now. That’s not the challenge. That’s not the problem. In fact, the problem in a place like Cushing is that we’re actually producing so much oil and gas in places like North Dakota and Colorado that we don’t have enough pipeline capacity to transport all of it to where it needs to go — both to refineries, and then, eventually, all across the country and around the world. There’s a bottleneck right here because we can’t get enough of the oil to our refineries fast enough. And if we could, then we would be able to increase our oil supplies at a time when they’re needed as much as possible.

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Democratic lawmakers on the State Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee said the governor’s efforts to ram through sweeping energy proposals that undercut energy efficiency and renewable energy will hurt Maine families and businesses.

On Friday, Governor Paul LePage released four significant energy proposals that could get a public hearing as early as tomorrow.

“The Governor said it was a top priority last summer to introduce an energy bill,” said Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx, D-Brunswick, who serves on the committee. “Now as the legislative session is in the last month, he is trying to recklessly upend good energy policy with almost no notice for a public hearing? The people deserve more time to find out if they will be one of the winners or losers under the plan.”

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In his State of the Union, President Obama introduced an all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American-made energy. This includes everything from tapping our offshore oil supplies and vast natural gas reserves, to doubling down on clean energy resources like wind and solar power, to developing new technologies that help us use less energy altogether.

Oil companies receive $4 billion every year in taxpayer-funded subsidies, despite continually bringing in record high profits. Meanwhile, gas prices are on the rise—just like they were this time last year—and the same people funding those subsidies are paying more at the pump for the gas they need to get to school and work.

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $1 million to the Penobscot Indian Nation that will help the tribe install a 227-megawatt wind project in Alder Stream Township in Franklin County.

“As President Obama highlighted in the State of the Union, the administration is committed to building an American economy that lasts and leverages our nation’s clean energy resources,” said DOE Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “The awards will help tribes across the country advance a sustainable energy future for their local communities, spur economic development and advance innovative clean energy technologies.”

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In President Obama 2013 budget proposal only $20 million was included for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Program, a 66 percent reduction from the funding level set by Congress in the FY12 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. This Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) program is charged with supporting efforts to research, test and develop innovative technologies capable of generating clean and affordable electricity from water resources.

“This is disappointing news for the entire U.S. water power industry,” said Sean O’Neill, OREC’s president. “Conventional hydropower already provides substantial electricity to consumers and stands ready to do more. Marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) technologies, including wave, current and tidal, have demonstrated substantial progress and offer the promise to deliver clean, affordable and American made energy to the U.S. grid and deserve continued funding support.”

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“By reducing the demand for electricity by 6.5 million kilowatt hours a year, Irving doesn’t merely lower its operating costs, but it lowers the cost of electricity for all Maine ratepayers,” said Ian Burnes Business Program Manager at Efficiency Maine.

Efficiency Maine awarded Irving Forest Products a $471,000 incentive to install a kiln moisture control system that will save the company nearly 15 percent of their annual energy expense – 3.2 million kilowatt hours a year. That amounts to enough energy to power 530 homes a year.

“The incentives from Efficiency Maine will allow the mill to take advantage of low-cost energy that we otherwise would not be able to access because of high up-front costs,” said Division Manager Susan Coulombe. “By reducing the amount of electricity purchased on the grid, the project will allow Irving to remain more competitive, and reinvest those resources in its people and operations.”

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graphic courtesy Efficiency Maine

PowerWise is conducting a study about home energy consumption with an Efficiency Maine grant. Fifty homes in Blue Peninsula communities will have electricity-monitoring systems installed at no cost to the homeowner, and homeowners will track their energy use for one year. PowerWise has enlisted a team from the University of Maine to help analyze and report on the data.

“This is the first controlled study in the United States to monitor so many residences with such detailed data,” said Joanne Steenberg, Vice President of PowerWise. “This study may change how homeowners, power companies, and policy makers view energy use, and will create a treasury of information that can be used in exciting ways in education.”

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Maine Citizens for Clean Energy, a diverse coalition of businesses, workers, environmental and public health groups, announced today that they will continue gathering signatures to send a ballot initiative to voters in 2013. The Coalition made the decision to continue its efforts today when it became clear that it could not meet today’s deadline to file signatures with the Secretary of State for the November 2012 election.

“Going for the 2012 ballot was always a race against the clock. Despite the incredible enthusiasm from the public and from hundreds of campaign volunteers, the clock was just a little too fast for us to hit the deadline for the 2012 ballot,” said David Farmer, spokesperson for Maine Citizens for Clean Energy.

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The Coast Guard is holding information gathering meetings this week to hear from mariners about a tidal energy proposal in Cobscook Bay at Maine’s eastern tip.The Coast Guard’s hearings are planned for Monday in Lubec and Tuesday in Eastport.

Ocean Renewable Power Co. wishes to deploy five turbine generator units for its Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project.

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