The Department of Energy is considering awarding a $40 million grant to a university-led group that hopes to put a wind farm off Monhegan Island.
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.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Big solar worked to kill Maine solar energy bill
Fearful that the bill would threaten their business model, national companies took steps that helped LePage and Republicans, at the expense of local solar installers and their Democratic allies.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
LePage vetoes solar energy bill after compromise talks fail
Advocates will push for an override vote Friday in the Legislature.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Natural gas pipeline riddle nears final answer in Maine
With public hearings starting and markets volatile, it’s still unclear whether expansion is worth the price for ratepayers.
Posted inBusiness
Biomass plant closures likely, despite proposed state bailout
A subsidy under consideration in the Legislature probably won’t keep all six plants open, putting the jobs of loggers and truckers at risk
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Jobs at risk in Legislature’s decision on solar energy bill
In Pittsfield, a solar installer who has hired 10 local residents braces for the impact on his business, and maybe on his home town
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Legislative committee torn on whether to prop up biomass power plants
Some members say they want assurances that the plants will remain open if electricity customers are forced to pay higher rates in a bid to save forestry jobs.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Solar power development bill clears legislative committee on party-line vote
Democrats prevail to push the bill ahead, but Gov. Paul LePage’s intent to veto the measure means it will probably fail.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Biomass industry’s appeal to Maine lawmakers: Save our jobs
But legislators are told that a bill aimed at saving the struggling power plants would cost electricity users millions and could threaten other occupations.
Posted inOpinion
Analysis: Portland pipeline’s open for business, but not flowing
The future of the line that runs from South Portland to Montreal hinges on a lawsuit and a potential competitor.