Eversource Energy says replacing hundreds of power line poles and structures would make the 49-mile line more resilient to storms, but ratepayer advocates across New England say it’s excessive and too costly.
Stephen Singer
Stephen Singer writes about energy and utilities for the Press Herald. He began covering the arcane beat in 1999-2000 as a statehouse reporter for The Associated Press in Charleston, W.Va., as the Legislature -- with many others in the U.S. -- set about the task of deregulating energy. Singer picked up the beat for the AP in Hartford, Conn., expanding his reporting to cover the six New England states. A newcomer to Maine, he prefers blueberries to lobster.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Solar and wind developers must pay extra to build on farmland. The question is, how much?
As demand grows for solar projects, the Legislature directed that rules be drawn up to govern compensation paid by solar developers to boost farmland conservation.
advertisement
Posted inBusiness
Critics want regulatory review of CMP’s corporate takeover
Maine’s public advocate and environmentalists say a deal to take the utility’s parent company private would shield financial decisions from the public.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine regulators reject proposal to let utilities report suspected illegal cannabis operations to police
The Public Utilities Commission said customers’ privacy would be violated if utilities had authority to report significant electricity use to law enforcement.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine needs more technicians to install and repair electric heat pumps
Citing the state’s aging workforce, employers and schools say they can’t train enough workers to keep pace with the expanding demand, resulting in customers waiting weeks or even months to get an appointment.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Truck carrying giant wind turbine blade strikes bridge, overturning and shutting Route 1 in Stockton Springs
No injuries were reported, and the bridge was only slightly damaged, officials said.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Children’s museum receives over $200,000 to advance ethnic studies
The federal grant of $224,143 will help the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine develop programs that comply with Maine law calling for African American and Wabanaki studies in public schools.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Repurposed Lincoln mill could become world’s largest long-duration energy storage system
The 85-megawatt system could hold enough wind- and solar-generated power to serve between 64,000 and 85,000 homes.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Failure of wind turbine blade off Cape Cod raises questions for Maine officials
The governor’s office and developer of the wind energy research array in the Gulf of Maine say they’ll follow federal regulators’ direction to address safety and environmental issues.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
A changing electric grid ramps up the work of Maine’s utility regulators
The need to connect renewable power to the grid and plan for increased electrification is expanding the Public Utilities Commission’s budget, staff and workload.