Coalition touts better green energy goals
A coalition of businesses and environmental groups yesterday launched a citizens' initiative to double the state's renewable energy benchmark, by mandating 20% of the state's electricity come from green sources by 2020.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine, Woolwich construction company Reed & Reed, IRC Roofing in Lewiston and others announced the coalition, Maine Citizens for Clean Energy, is beginning to gather signatures to put the measure on the November 2012 ballot, according to a press release. The initiative builds on Maine's existing policy that requires 10% of the state's power come from renewable sources by 2017. It also requires the state's utilities to support and invest in energy-efficiency resources for consumers to help lower costs. Bangor Hydro Electric Co. spokeswoman Susan Faloon told the Bangor Daily News the company supports renewable energy development and would meet with the coalition to discuss the plan's details. The coalition said boosting the amount of electricity derived from renewable sources, like wind and solar, would create jobs, control energy costs and reduce pollution, according to the release.
Earlier this year, Gov. Paul LePage proposed scrapping the existing requirement, which raises the amount of power generated by green sources by 1% a year through 2017, and cutting the requirement to 4% instead of 10%.Lawmakers, however, defeated that measure.
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