The Maine Public Utilities Commission is facing criticism from environmentalist groups and Democratic lawmakers for deciding to cut funding for energy efficiency programs.
The Associated Press reported that the PUC voted 2-1 on Tuesday for what the Natural Resources Council of Maine and Conservation Law Foundation said would put a $22 million funding limit on Efficiency Maine, which operates various energy efficiency programs.
The PUC has yet to comment on the vote.
“We would stop having heating programs or programs to save peoples’ heating levels through weatherization and high-efficiency heating systems, plus we still wouldn’t have enough to reach our electricity-saving obligations,” Michael Stoddard, executive director of Efficiency Maine, told the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
Sources: The Associated Press, Maine Public Broadcasting Network
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