Consumers may see hefty increases in their power bills as generators win huge gains to guarantee they can meet the demand for electricity.
Tux Turkel
Tux Turkel writes primarily about energy issues affecting Maine. Over the years, he has gazed into the spent-fuel pool at the now-gone Maine Yankee nuclear plant, looked across Casco Bay from atop Wyman Station’s smokestack, and toured power plants and wind farms across the state, but remains confused about why electricity doesn’t leak from our wall sockets.
When he’s not trying to make sense of dense regulatory filings at the Public Utilities Commission, he’s likely to be hiking in the mountains or visiting Maine’s coastal islands in his small motorboat.
A graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Tux lives in Yarmouth with his wife, youngest son, a cat and a guinea pig.
Power plants, happy with high electric rates, fight natural gas expansion
Quietly, generators try to kill a pipeline plan that proponents say would save Mainers millions.
Maine regulators approve expansion of gas pipeline capacity
It’s not clear how much consumers would pay, and four other New England states would have to take similar steps before Maine could move forward.
Risky choices paying off for UMaine’s wind project
Using unconventional materials and real-world testing, a university-led consortium is poised to become a global leader in offshore turbines.
Cumberland man works to restore his own private lighthouse
Ford Reiche paid $283,000 for Halfway Rock, a former Coast Guard lighthouse 4 miles off Harpswell, and he is undertaking a painstaking renovation.
New England’s use of solar energy growing as Maine waffles
ISO-New England says the sun will supply 3 percent of its electricity by 2025, but Maine trails the trend, which is led by producers in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Wind output to grid gets key upgrade
Weather data received every five minutes allows more accurate predictions of wind production and efficient power feed to the grid.
PUC staff advises against plan to expand Maine’s natural gas pipeline capacity
A long-awaited report says consumers wouldn’t benefit from the $75 million annual outlay because of low oil and gas prices, pipelines under construction and other market conditions.
French defense contractor joins Maine offshore wind power project
DCNS Group, which has annual revenues of $3.5 billion, brings expertise in ocean energy development.
Former air base flies past five-year goals for recovery from shutdown
Brunswick Landing’s reuse efforts have quickly drawn new businesses and far more jobs than projected at this point of redevelopment.