AUGUSTA (WGME) – There was a packed room at the State House Thursday with plenty of passionate speakers about solar energy in Maine and who’s paying for it.
Republicans are trying to end net-energy billing in Maine.
There are bills on the table that would either make big changes to net energy billing or get rid of the program altogether.
Critics say the solar savings in the program come at the expense of other ratepayers.
Supporters insist the numbers don’t support that claim.
One supporter, Adam Lee, who runs Lee Auto Mall locations across the state, says he understands not everyone can buy solar panels, but the program should be reformed, not ended entirely.
“I absolutely understand, and I have no illusions, look, I’m a wealthy car dealer, I get it, I can afford to pay this,” Lee said. “I’m not pretending it’s something different than what it is. But you can’t just get rid of it. You can’t just chase every business out of the state that on good faith made investments in the state.”
“The Band-Aid does need to be ripped off,” Sen. Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) said. “And if that is your business model, I’m sorry, but the interest of everyone else on the premise that we needed more solar? Well we got more solar, we just went about it the wrong way.”
Supporters testified earlier this month that an independent analysis of net energy shows it saves energy users money and returns $1.23 for every dollar invested.
Republicans argue other clean energy resources are available and more economical than solar.