Bill passed that could change renewable energy programs
June 20, 2025
SHE VETOS A BILL THAT THEY SAY WOULD MAKE ENERGY MORE EXPENSIVE FOR MAINERS. MAINE RENEWABLE ENERGY LEADERS SAY THAT NEW LEGISLATION JUST PASSED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT COULD INCREASE COSTS FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHERS WHO RELY ON SOLAR. “MAKES INCREDIBLY LARGE RETROACTIVE CHANGES TO MAINE’S SOLAR POLICIES” 04;21;17;22 ELIZA DONAGHUE OF MAINE RENEWABLE ENERGY IS TALKING ABOUT A BILL THAT WAS JUST ENACTED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE… THAT CHANGES THE TARIFF RATE FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN NET ENERGY BILLING. THIS INCLUDES BUSINESSES… SCHOOLS… AND MUNICIPALITIES. “WE ARE ASKING GOVERNOR MILLS TO VETO THE BILL OR TO ASK FOR CHANGES.” 00;01;05;16 SOME… LIKE JAKE SPRINGER OF NEXAMP… WANT GOVERNOR MILLS TO STEP IN. “SHE’S BEEN A LEADER ON CLEAN ENERGY, FOR HER WHOLE TIME IN OFFICE. AND WE’RE HOPING THAT SHE CONTINUES THAT LEGACY AND, STANDS UP AND DOES THE RIGHT THING” 00;01;19;16 THE LEGISLATION DOES SAY THE TARIFF CAN’T BE MORE THAN ONE AND A HALF TIMES THE AVERAGE TARIFF RATES SET UP BY OTHER STATES IN THE REGION. BILL SPONSOR… REPRESENTATIVE SOPHIA WARREN… SAYS THIS BILL LOOKS TO EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD. “I REALLY WANT TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THAT INVESTMENT. I HAVE CONSTITUENTS MYSELF WHO HAVE REALLY GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY, AND THEY’VE SAVED UP AND THEY’VE WANTED TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT TO PUT SOLAR ON THEIR ROOFTOPS. BUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM ITSELF WAS REALLY NOT INTENDED TO BE SO NEARLY AS GENEROUS AS IT IS.” 00;06;40;00 THIS LEGISLATION IS NOW ON GOVERNOR MILLS IS DESK WHERE SHE CAN EITHER SIG
Bill passed that could change renewable energy programs
LD 1777 changed the tariff amount for non-residential energy programs.
Updated: 6:22 PM EDT Jun 20, 2025
Maine Renewable Energy leaders say that new legislation that just passed on Wednesday night could increase costs for municipalities and others who relay on solar. ” makes incredibly large retroactive changes to Maine’s solar policies,” Eliza Donoghue of Maine Renewable Energy said.She’s talking about a bill that was just enacted by the State Legislature that changes the tariff rate for non-residential customers who are enrolled in net energy billing, including businesses, schools and municipalities. “We are asking Gov. (Janet) Mills to veto the bill or to ask for changes,” Jake Springer of Nexamp said. “She’s been a leader on clean energy, for her whole time in office. And we’re hoping that she continues that legacy and, stands up and does the right thing.”The legislation does say that the tariff can’t be more than 1.5 times the average tariff rates set up by other states in the region.Bill sponsor, Rep. Sophia Warren, says this bill looks to even the playing field. “I really want to honor those who have made that investment. I have constituents myself who have really gone out of their way, and they’ve saved up and they’ve wanted to make that investment to put solar on their rooftops. But the structure of the program itself was really not intended to be so nearly as generous as it is,” she said.This legislation is now on Mills’ desk. She has 10 days to either sign it, veto it or let it go into law without her signature.
Maine Renewable Energy leaders say that new legislation that just passed on Wednesday night could increase costs for municipalities and others who relay on solar.
“[It] makes incredibly large retroactive changes to Maine’s solar policies,” Eliza Donoghue of Maine Renewable Energy said.
She’s talking about a bill that was just enacted by the State Legislature that changes the tariff rate for non-residential customers who are enrolled in net energy billing, including businesses, schools and municipalities.
“We are asking Gov. (Janet) Mills to veto the bill or to ask for changes,” Jake Springer of Nexamp said. “She’s been a leader on clean energy, for her whole time in office. And we’re hoping that she continues that legacy and, stands up and does the right thing.”
The legislation does say that the tariff can’t be more than 1.5 times the average tariff rates set up by other states in the region.
Bill sponsor, Rep. Sophia Warren, says this bill looks to even the playing field.
“I really want to honor those who have made that investment. I have constituents myself who have really gone out of their way, and they’ve saved up and they’ve wanted to make that investment to put solar on their rooftops. But the structure of the program itself was really not intended to be so nearly as generous as it is,” she said.
This legislation is now on Mills’ desk. She has 10 days to either sign it, veto it or let it go into law without her signature.
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