Maine House OKs bill on energy
6/6/09 | 9 comments

Maine House OKs bill on energy


Weatherization of homes key factor
By Glenn Adams
The Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Maine— A major energy bill that calls for weatherization of homes and sets a course for energy independence in oil-addicted Maine won a unanimous vote of support in the House on Friday.

The bill, which was approved by a 137-0 vote, faces further House and Senate votes. It’s been a top priority for lawmakers during this year’s session, which began amid worries of how oil-dependent Mainers can cope with energy prices in the future.

“We have no choice today but to take action,” said House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven. “It is an important first step.”

Eighty percent of Mainers depend on oil to heat their homes, compared to 8 percent nationally, according to government and independent studies prepared during the past year. Pingree said Mainers last year spent $1.5 billion on heating fuel. But because of poor insulation, inefficient heating systems and other forms of waste, $400 million of the total was wasted, she said.

The bill passed Friday creates an Efficiency Maine Trust to run an array of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

It authorizes $79 million in federal economic stimulus money spent over the next two years on energy conservation programs, principally weatherization and programs that reward consumers for buying energy-efficient appliances and renewable power systems. It encourages expanded training for careers in installation of alterna-tive energy sources, weatherization and energy auditing.

John Kerry, head of the state’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, said the bill sets a framework for weatherizing all Maine homes and 50 percent of businesses by 2030.

In addition to the federal stimulus program, funding would come from proceeds from carbon dioxide emission allowances sold through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and a proposed $30 million bond among other sources.

The bill emerged from a specially formed legislative committee that reviewed dozens of energy-related bills.

Supporters said it is only a start toward achieving long-term goals of reducing Maine’s thirst for fossil fuels and making the state energy independent. They acknowledged that new funding sources would have to be developed because most of the bill before lawmakers comes from one-time stimulus money.

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Comments
9 comments on this item
On 6/5/09 at 9:19 PM, captainandy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"funding would come from proceeds from carbon dioxide emission allowances sold through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative"

Yet another money sucking, government sponsored scam!

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On 6/6/09 at 8:07 AM, safedman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Too bad not one of these ols have a ground level idea of energy production. Their view is from a national level that contains panic, got to be popular and follow the leader....

May as well start into looking to moving to Texas.

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On 6/6/09 at 12:03 PM, patycat wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Gosh than the oil companies will go broke

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On 6/6/09 at 6:27 PM, Sledman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Throwing 79 borrowed million from a fund that was supposed to create jobs, not fund pork, is criminal! Yet another liberal democrat crime against the sheeple of Maine. Unreal.

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On 6/6/09 at 8:55 PM, irv4me wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The thing that really gets me is that "They acknowledged that new funding sources would have to be developed because most of the bill before lawmakers comes from one-time stimulus money." So basically if there is no new funding source, the program will either cease to exist or taxes will go up or a bond will be passed (more borrowing). My guess is the latter, given this administration's record. Why can't they figure out ways to both reduce oil consumption AND put more money in people's pockets??? All the overpaid bureaucrats we have in this state and nobody has any better ideas than to simply insulate more houses? A worthy cause but it's like putting a band-aid on an oozing wound.

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On 6/7/09 at 6:14 AM, safedman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Oil addicted Maine??? Whos fault is that? We have no gas line in Northern Maine....

Wood Burning power plants were put on the chopping block this past spring due to CMP giving all the power contracts to NB Power......

I just hope before anything is put into law our legislators read the bills proposed and understand what they are doing....Oh sorry I forgot what State I live in

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On 6/7/09 at 12:27 PM, pcme2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

What a stupid "John Kerry, head of the state’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, said the bill sets a framework for weatherizing all Maine homes and 50 percent of businesses by 2030" comment. get real good planning if it is going to take until 2030.

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On 6/7/09 at 8:22 PM, arrogantdan wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I think it is time to get other sources of energy in maine like LNG and build power plants. Then we would'nt be "addicted to oil". And our state govt wants to support an energy corridor through Maine, from Canada ? is'nt that a bit like being held hostage to OPEC? We need our own energy supply not one comming from Canada. We also need jobs in Maine so whats the holdup on LNG developement? I do hope politicians read these comments because its a great way for them to see what people want and need.

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On 6/8/09 at 2:48 PM, blueskiesaboveme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I for one support this bill and think it's great. This bill invests in Maine's future.

This will provide jobs, stregthen our homes, and help us become energy independent.

This bill is Mainers helping Mainers. This bill will stregthen the bonds of our communities.

This bill will help us diversify our resources and help jump start new industries.

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