Area representatives call for changes with solar subsidies

MILO – Reps. Chad Perkins, R-Dover-Foxcroft and James White, R-Guilford, joined by Steven Foster, R-Dexter and Larry Dunphy, R-Emden, both members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, where in Milo on Sept. 27. They met with business leaders and citizens concerned about the impact of net energy billing. The Legislature’s failure to address rising energy costs associated with net energy billing will force Maine businesses to close, cause workers to lose their jobs, and will result in higher prices for consumers.

Last session, this spring, and this summer legislative Republicans repeatedly sounded the alarm that Maine’s solar policies will wreak havoc on Maine small businesses and consumers. Republicans have amplified concerns expressed by Maine’s Public Advocate that failure to end overly generous ratepayer subsidies given to solar companies that will cost Mainers $4 billion over 20 years.

The four representatives issued this statement, “Legislative Republicans repeatedly proposed solutions last session to end the practice of paying out-of-state solar companies .20 cents a kilowatt hour for energy that can cost as little as .05 cents to produce. Today we heard from a half dozen employers in the Milo area. In just four years, the lowest increase in kilowatt cost was 50 percent, the highest was 136 percent. Milo Chip previously announced that energy costs associated with NEB is causing it to close.

“Even with support from Maine’s Public Advocate and a handful of Democrats, the Legislature failed to act. The result is unprecedented increases in power bills that is causing businesses to close, people to lose their jobs, and ultimately higher consumer prices. State solar policies favor solar companies and their lobbyists are the expense of Maine employers, jobs, and consumers.  

“We are calling on employers and consumers statewide to contact their local legislators and demand action next session to sharply lower or reduce the inflated subsidies taken from consumers and paid out to solar companies.”

It is important to point out that legislative Republicans are not against rooftop solar. It should be a consumer choice. Republicans are against requiring lower to middle income ratepayers to subsidize projects that they cannot afford or do not benefit from.