AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) – Public hearings were held Thursday morning against net energy billing.
“You cannot claim to care about poor people and support this public policy at the same time,” stated Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart of Aroostook.
Net energy billing is a program that allows Maine people to lower their electricity bills through generating renewable energy such as solar.
Republicans claim the burden in turn falls to others, increasing the cost of energy.
“Aside from the financial ruin this program is poised to cause and is already causing, it’s a matter of fairness and equity for many of our middle-class families,” commented Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Penobscot..
Thursday morning, the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology hosted a public hearing on four bills regarding the program. Some of which even calling for a complete repeal of it.
“This program is not about rooftop solar and recouping power that John Q. Citizen generates behind the meter in a fair manner,” added Stewart. “It’s about outrageous profits and a government-backed scheme that goes to hedge funds on Wall Street and foreign companies and investors. Without a doubt, the program is hurting businesses just as bad as it’s hurting your grandparents on a fixed income each month.”
Solar companies don’t deny that the cost of energy is too high in Maine, but see the program has part of a solution.
“We see the rates in Maine as being some of the absolute highest in the entire country and so this is really the first opportunity that people have to save money on their utility bills,” answered Ampion Inc. C.E.O. Nate Owen.
Claiming that a complete wipe of the program would have critical consequences.
“I think it’s a regressive step,” mentioned Owen. “I think that power will continue to be extremely expensive in this state. I think that’s going to limit the growth of this state. I think it’s, it would be very unfortunate if that were to happen.”
Mainers that take advantage of the program say they do it for two main reasons.
“It serves a number of goals, number one it’s economic, number two it’s environmental,” concluded Greenfield Township Resident Bradfield Lyon. “I’m concerned about reducing, as we all should be concerned about, our greenhouse gas emissions and through this, I can, my solar panels, I can cover all my home electricity needs, about 80% of my home heating needs.”
The bills now move to a work session in front of the committee where they will be further discussed.
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