Gov. Paul LePage asserted in his weekly radio address that Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard presents an economic barrier that will hurt families and businesses. But he based his comments on a biased report and bowed to conservative politics instead of facts. What’s more, he used the unwhole information to blast policies supported by an independent candidate for U.S. Senate and the president. His speech was political hogwash.
LePage quoted a report by the Maine Heritage Policy Center and Beacon Hill Institute that said Maine’s current renewable energy standards — which require that some of the state’s electricity be generated by renewable sources like biomass, wind, solar and hydropower — will raise electricity prices $145 million by 2017 and cost Mainers nearly 1,000 jobs.
What he failed to mention is that the 20-page report was produced by entities with an agenda to further conservative ideals; the analysis should be viewed with that in mind. The Maine Heritage Policy Center has a mission to “promote conservative public policies,” and Beacon Hill has a mission to be “grounded in the principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility.” The report — part of a series of publications called Path to Prosperity — says its aim is to “focus on Maine’s overspending and the resulting tax burden … All information is from sources considered reliable, but may be subject to inaccuracies, omissions, and modifications.”
LePage also failed to mention that another report, prepared by neutral London Economics International for the Maine Public Utilities Commission and Maine Legislature on Jan. 30, came to a different, more nuanced conclusion about Maine’s renewable energy requirements: They have both costs and benefits. While the standards may lead to an increase in electricity costs to ratepayers (but a more modest increase than the other report states), they also spur renewable development, which contributes to gross state product, employment and property tax revenues. Other benefits include the potential for emissions reductions, fuel diversification, fuel cost savings and lower electricity prices if renewables displace more expensive generation methods.
The 128-page report emphasized that the costs and benefits do not offer an apples-to-apples comparison, that there are different timeframes assumed for the costs and benefits and that renewable portfolio standards are a small part of generating renewable resource development. It gives a more realistic, impartial assessment of the complexities involved in determining future impacts of energy efficiency policies.
Aside from the reports, though, does Maine really want to incentivize only the cheapest possible energy sources with little consideration of long-term environmental or health-related impacts? Shouldn’t Maine encourage a mix of energy sources, along with energy conservation and efficiency? Given that the state lacks oil fields and coal mines, investing in local energy sources seems like sound fiscal policy.
After claiming that Maine is losing business opportunities because of the state’s renewable energy portfolio, LePage then took a jab at former Gov. Angus King, who is running for U.S. Senate. He said Maine’s first renewable portfolio standard legislation was established in 1999 under the King administration, and it later financially benefited King when he oversaw the development of wind energy turbine farms. But LePage’s claim is skewed.
The rules he spoke of, developed when King was governor, did require electricity providers to supply at least 30 percent of their total sales using electricity generated by renewable sources. But at the time, the percentage of renewable energy being supplied was actually greater than what the rules required. Implying King adjusted electric utility laws for his own benefit — LePage said, “Working the system to pad your pockets does not represent Maine values” — is silly and unfair.
Then, LePage criticized President Barack Obama for spending $90 billion on green energy projects “and failed companies” — a reference to solar-panel producer Solyndra, which went bankrupt even after receiving government subsidies. “As Gov. Mitt Romney pointed out … this is billions of dollars that the president should have spent on other reliable energy sources or to support our teachers,” LePage continued.
The $90 billion is the amount of money in the stimulus that was allocated for clean energy investments, according to PolitiFact. Most of it didn’t go to companies, however. More than 60 percent went to state and local governments and utility companies for energy efficiency, transportation and electrical infrastructure upgrades. The Maine PUC benefited, receiving $27.3 million in stimulus funds for energy projects throughout the state, including residential weatherization, energy audits and business conversion projects. And, speaking of teachers, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 did provide funding to states to help with their education budget shortfalls.
At the end of his address, LePage said residents must do their homework on the issues and hold elected officials accountable for their actions. We wholeheartedly agree.
Once again, misstatements and worse from our Governor (and his conservative sources). Yes, he should be held accountable (“You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting …”)
The Issue is, we pay a little more now, spur the development of renewable energy and pay a lot less later. Or we pay less now, and when our fossil fuels run out we pay a lot more later. The problem is we need to run a country as it it will last forever, not run the country that will get people elected every 4 to 6 years. We will never get anything done.
Can anyone tell us where the Maine Heritage Policy Center is located? It’s a “center” right? So there should be an actual place you can go to see how they operate. But I can’t find it. Their web site just has a post office box as an address.
Perhaps it should more accurately be called the Maine Heritage Policy Post Office Box (MHPPOB).
Their so-called “staff” is all “Directors”, but none of them actually directs anyone. The new CEO as of July was previously their “Chief Economist” for six years, although there are no other economists, or anyone else he was chief over. When he got his new job, this six year Maine Chief Economist decided he’d finally move to Maine. But we don’t know where.
My friends and I behaved this way when we were nine, with made-up important titles and pretended activities….but even we had a clubhouse.
These people are a joke.
Let me know when you find their headquarters. I would like to go buy some of their Tea Potty propaganda. Might be worth something someday.
“Tea Party” – It sounds so much nicer than “mob of racists and homophobes”…
The corporate offices are located at 1 Beanpot Circle, top floor, just off Washington Avenue and Veranda Street…..plenty of parking available…..
Good one.
I know that vacant lot.
No, really…..old building with several offices and warehouse space…..I used to haul many loads of product from the place…..the product produced a large amount of natural gas….tasty too…
The MHPC office is located in Portland.
The address is a secret is it?
And all of those directors (five plus one secretary) who don’t direct anyone? And the chief economist who doesn’t chief anyone and didn’t live in Maine for six years?
And those findings they can’t explain how they arrived at?
And the funding they refuse to divulge?
It’s a joke.
The joke is that you accept a supposedly ‘nuetral’ report out of London….London?…..hello
and now your yammering on about the MHPC economist living out of state?
what are you smoking?
I’m not commenting on the London report or any other. My point is this “Center” is a fraud. The so-called cheif economist supposedly worked at the “Center” (that has no address) for six years but lived out of state.
They don’t return emails.
They won’t say who funds them.
They can’t explain how they arrived at many of their so-called findings.
It’s a complete sham.
You are touching the outer workings of the GOP machine. It is truly a sordid and evil empire that seeks only to feudalize and subjugate Americans, indeed the world, for profit at any cost. I’m not against profit however, as I’ve said so many times, it needs to be cultivated within a symbiotic economic model that benefits ALL of the participants.
Look up Steve Forbes and Forbes Magazine!
They and the Heritage Foundation Chief Economist are intertwined like the words of this senetence!
I emailed the former head of this motley crew, a certain Lance Dutton, I believe and queried him on some positions he publicly stated that I had questions about. Needless to say no reply was forthcoming. Cabals like this foul the political waters and bring dirty, corrupt political influence peddling to our great state. The are the picture perfect example of the word “zealots”.
I believe the Maine Heritage Center is an affiliate of The Heritage Foundation, a national organization that defines and then promotes the GOP agenda. A sister organization, Americans for Prosperity, works in harmony with The Heritage Foundation and is funded by the Koch Brothers. Locally, former state Senator Carol Weston (current Chair of the FOFK which recently took control of Fort Knox after it’s operations were privatized by Dr. Beardsley and Governor LePage) is the Chairperson of the Maine chapter of the Americans for Prosperity. In my opinion these organizations are an evil incarnation of greed at any expense.
These groups need to be monitored carefully. They are a threat to the very democracy they purport to uphold.
They would claim you are infringing on their Right to free speech. Of course that is total horse droppings. I don’t like PACs or any kind of lobby groups. I say one person, one voice. I feel the same way about our electoral system. It isn’t right that a party can ignore the wishes of American citizens and choose whomever they want as president. Worse perhaps, it is not right that our votes are lumped into groups rather than counted individually. Gore won the election with Bush and yet Bush became president. We are still recovering from that and, incredibly, the GOP blames the current administration for our problems. How did those guys ever get out of college with such short memories?
You speak the truth, there George. Corporations are not people, my friend and SuperPACs are highly immoral. That we haven’t overturned People ‘s United yet is mind boggling as is that any one on the right actually likes this ruling. It is so damaging to the republic as to be treasonous.
LeBUFFOON is a disgusting TeaRadical CORPORATE TOADIE who, like all these sad pathetic right wingers, take their cues entirely from the likes of these corporate toadie organizations who just spew out whatever they tell them to say. LeBUFFOON is a corporate toadie and tool who can’t think and thought for himself. He is a PUPPET of the corporatists. His corporate masters whose toenails he smooches night and day.
LePage twists truth about ______, blames Democrats for ________. Fill in the blanks yourself, there are plenty of options!
Google “LePage blames Democrats”…..More than 3,000,000 hits!
Last time I heard your President is still blaming Bush four years later. You shouldn’t be throwing stones.
It took Dubya 8 years to get us into this mess. It will take Pres. Obama 8 to get us out. Only fair, isn’t it?
He inherited a load from the one before him.
A load of what, assets? He sold America to Cheney’s Haliburton. We get Romney in there and we will be in another war where wealthy men send our boys out to face canons while these wealthy men make money.
So how is that Hope and Change doing for you? All Barry has done is campaign since he was elected, read his telepromter, play golf, appear on Lovin the Left flunkie tv shows, and most everyone I know is Worse off now than when he took office. He won, he played and he failied the American people. Time for someone with a strong economic background to be a leader that we have not had in DC.
Hammock Bear, please don’t give up posting. I really enjoy reading and deciphering your feisty? counter attacks against us “lefty liberals,” even though you “failied” a few times at bat.
You should join your beloved guv in Augusta as an assistant to Adrienne Bennett, his interpreter. I’d like to hear you speak at a Tea Party rally on his behalf when he leaves office.
He seems to have gotten us deeper into it , the new campaign slogan should be ” Backward ” !
To say “your” President is unpatriotic. Right wingers sure have gotten uglier over the years.
I wrote it that way because of all the bumper stickers during the Bush days. Saying “Bush is not my President.” I got the ugly wording from the Dems.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Either you love your country or you don’t. Peace,
j
Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness
that created them – Albert Einstein
I agree with you a 100% on two wrong done make a right. Just saying don’t throw stones.
THe truth totally hurts you. If you want to see who Blames whom. take a look at the current administration in DC. Barack blames Big Bird, Big Bird blames Elmo and Pelosi and Reid blame everyone who in not a liberal. You blame Gov. LePage and he merely does his job.
I think this post wins the award today for most inane and disconnected. Isn’t it Mr. Romney who would prefer to see a fricasseed Big Bird?
Joe average. you are funny. LOLS. BUT please feel free to pay to keep PBS on air. I have a feeling the plug will get pulled on them when Romney wins. You would spout the same greivance it PBS was a Right Wing business…………….you cannot deny that.
You’re absolutely right — I cannot deny that I would spout the same grievance if PBS was a right wing business. I think educational public TV and radio is essential to an informed society.
Of course, in my original post I was pointing up the absurdity of your comment bringing in Big Bird as somebody/thing that Obama blames, when Romney has no use for him/it other than as an entree. But I guess you missed that.
Barack, or, Barry, as you alternatively refer to him, did not blame Big Bird. He simply said that Rum – eh, Romney, was going to shore up the deficit by chopping PBS – when he chops off Obama Care. It was Romney who told Jim Lehrer “I’m a fan of Big Bird, too, Jim. But PBS has got to go.”
How to go. Keep at it.
PBS should get private funding period. It is a Left Wing business and I do not care for my taxes to flip the bill for them to flip the bird at other political parties. If you want PBS, then you should be the ones to pay for it.
Then you should be OK with the armed services radio pulling Fox and Rush. What’s fair is fair.
PBS is the ONLY source for question and answer programs featuring ALL – Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, all under funded independent candidates for the Senate races. All have been allowed large blocks of time to discuss Maine policy issues. When was the last time you actually listened to something more than a soundbite hammockbear?
Liberals and Dumbocrats hate it when ever LaPage is correct as in this case.
Another name calling conservative. Such insight! Such piercing analysis! Ya, I’m going to take your comment seriously.
Sure…..did you read the article? If you want, someone can read it to you
Spoken like a true lefty lib. and oh so paethetic.
Pathetic. Yes, very. Your one line grunts are pathetic, true. To call someone a “lefty lib” is not political discourse. It is Beavis and Butthead.
A “lefty lib?” And…so “paethetic?” Sounds like Charter skool.
Dumbocrats? I didn’t think they let kids on here. My impression was this was for adults.
OH NO!!! LePage not telling the truth!!!!! What a shocker that is.
The man is incapable of telling the truth!
Your statement should be removed. Where are the disquers who fail at their jobs………….
Ah – Robespierre! Pray tell -what are “disquers?”
And…do you flag all posts contrary to your own?
The article states ” the information is correct ” ! Perhaps a charter school would do you some good.
Gov. LePage is looking to the future and many in Maine resent his every statement. For months I have read the negative comments about our Governor and it is apparent that our educational system is in serious need of providing strong education to the future generations here. So many commenters feel the need to belittle and rant about the Gov. He is doing his job, the job he was elected to do, and too many in this state negatively dump on all he says and does. Poor Sports need better lessons.
Gov. LePage is not looking toward the future at all. He is a conservative and therefore looking to the past, as if the world will stand still for him and his wealthy oil interests cronies. The future is here, now, this next split second. Putting all our eggs into the limited energy basket of non renewables is way shortsighted. He is complaining about education being poor in this state: well, he’s a product of it. He can’t see one inch ahead when any thinker would be developing renewables. He’s too busy being an uneducated know-it-all teapartier who touts using ‘common sense’ when he is about as far from using common sense as the Heritage Center is.
It will take years to undo the damage he has done.
How about you do the job and let us see how you can work a miracle………….. you seem to know so very much.
That’s the difference between LePage and me. He thinks he can do the job and I know neither of us can. I would try to serve all the people in Maine.
This is what we as a state and a nation get for allowing zealots and ideologues to get elected. That is the lesson the left needs to learn.
Where does it say that Conservatives do not look toward the future? Is that in your little left manual/ or is that a made up little fairy tale? We as a country Have to look ahead to energy sources. You berate our Governor to the point of senseless accusations which merely reflects on a small educational background. Tea Party members are decent Americans who care very much about this country and the future that this country has for future generations. If you would make the time to attend a Tea Party meeting, it may open your eyes to a more positive outlook.
“Tea Party members are decent Americans who care very much about this country and the future that this country has for future generations. ”
I agree. It’s just that they are incredibly wrong about pretty much everything.
Sadly, they are wrong Only in your eyes. Time to wake up and open those eyes to reality.
Could you list LePage’s accomplishments?
Um… well… lets see… Give him credit, he does show up to work everyday.
I wish he wouldn’t!
Me too, but it was the only positive thing I could think of to say about him.
While I agree a lot of decent people claim the Tea Party affiliation, I also know after many long discussions that they fall short in doing their homework. They don’t look outside of FOX soundbites. They believe the personae of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. If you do take the time, say, just to bring the language of a simple piece of legislation, as written, to prove a point? That is too much information. I really don’t care at this point who votes for who. But admit that you are voting not from logic but from fear fed to you buy a newstation bent on making money off the uninformed. BTW, not a liberal, voting independent, democrat and republican this time. I vote for the person, not the party.
You are so wrong. You should NOT assume. Regarding FOX news, you merely make a foolish comment as the saying goes. MSNBC, CBS, ABC PBS…………..hello……………………. Play to the LEFT . Lately with incorrect news as fact that is NOT factual at all. You have merely jumped on the bandwagon of leftist rant and discord.
I don’t assume, and in several efforts – bringing the language of a bill passed in Maine, that raised health insurance rates for those over 55. Plus state government findings from several other states that had the same result. Those tea party affiliates said the same as you did – bias. How can legislative language, written in this case by Republicans be biased against your side. Those were the words. The states that showed the same findings were Republican led states. The trouble is, as I see it? Your side doesn’t want information that differs with what your gut tells you. To tea partiers across the board, the facts are biased and incorrect if they disagree or disprove what you’ve been told in sound bites by pundits. I listen/read FOX along with other news bureaus, and it is astonishing how often they make mistakes. My bias against Fox started not because of what they choose to promote, but how sloppy their product is.
The future is the coming age of darkness…
The media insists on characterizing statements about dependency on government handouts as controversial, but in truth such statements are absolutely correct. It’s not that nearly half of Americans are dependent on government; it’s actually more than half. If one includes not just people on food stamps and welfare, but also seniors on Medicare, Social Security and people employed by the government directly, the number is more like 165 million out of 308 million, which is 53%.
Some argue that Social Security and Medicare benefits are a right because people pay into these programs their whole lives, or that we need a government safety net in place for people who fall on hard times. However, this all becomes a moot point when the funds people depend on become worthless due to government default or rampant inflation.
This is less an issue of dignity or dependence on government, and more about the deceitfulness of government promises.
The Fed recently announced that it plans to keep interest rates near zero and keep buying near worthless assets from banks indefinitely. This enables Congress to spend without having to take deficits or the debt seriously and there is every indication they intend to spend with impunity until the system collapses. There are no brakes on the runaway train. The federal debt ceiling law does nothing to limit spending. The ceiling will have to be raised yet again perhaps before the year is out. What is happening in Greece with austerity measures and riots in the street will happen here within a decade according to some realistic estimates if we do not find some way to fiscally restrain our government.
There is little point in a debate about being entitled to healthcare or food or shelter from fellow taxpayers if the whole system has collapsed. And, with the way our politicians have taken over and mismanaged vast amounts of resources, collapse seems almost unavoidable. Yet the number of Americans who have significant dependency on government is dangerously high, and I honestly fear for them.
Worse, corporate welfare is also at an all time high with no signs of diminishing. Though it is hard to quantify, Tad Dehaven at Cato has estimated that the government spends nearly twice as much on corporate welfare than on social welfare. Both parties are equally guilty. More and more, the business sector is learning to rely on taxpayer largesse in one form or another. They used to be solely concerned with providing a better product to the consumer at a better price. Now, success on Wall Street depends entirely too much on having the best lobbyists on K Street. If one includes the employees of “private” businesses who depend on government contracts, grants or bailouts, there are even more people dependent on government in some way.
Government does not create resources when it taxes people and prints money; it merely redistributes the wealth, while supporting a massive, wasteful bureaucracy along the way. Government is a giant, blood-sucking parasite on our otherwise healthy economy. For too long we have entrusted too much economic power and influence to irresponsible politicians in Washington. It’s the chaos that ensues after they run the system into the ground that will be so painful for so many people. But realigning our economy with the free market and away from government mandates and handouts must happen in order for it to thrive again.
You dont have any Idea as to what you are talking About!
I think someone slipped an earwig into your ear and it laid eggs in your frontal lobe Compartment!
You are missing the point, the goal, the raison de etre’ for the existence of the Heritage Foundation.
If LePage is looking at all to the future, he is looking with a very narrow view. Like Romney, he doesn’t care a whit for the “47%” — and, since whales don’t pay taxes, he doesn’t care about them either.
If you are not strong on education, healthcare, the environment, and infrastructure, it is difficult to build a case for the fact that you care about the future. LePage’s school choice and online learning initiatives will create a two-tier education system with winners and losers. Ditto his healthcare and health insurance policies. Environment? Please name one thing LePage has done to protect the environment or Maine’s quality of life. Infrastructure? Hard to see how LePage can invest in that after handing millions of dollars of tax breaks to the rich.
LePage’s playbook has been written for him by ALEC. Yes, of course we need corporations, but the role of corporations is to seek profit, not to look after the general welfare of the people of Maine. We depend on government to do that — and it is in that department that LePage is woefully lacking.
A two-tier education system with winners and losers? This governor is working to advance the current educational system so that Maine HS and College grads are better prepared to work in the reality of the countries economic failure. The Obama Care got the okay from the Supreme Court but will surely backfire on the liberal sheep. I see Gov. Le Page as working to clean up from the previous two governors famous spending sprees. This governor lives in the real world, having worked at Mardens. Without corporations, there are no jobs. Why can’t you see that? Take a walk in a Walmart, the employees there are happy to have a job. Same at Mardens and KMart.
One of the biggest problems in our society are the CHEATERS who take money from those who truely need help. Gov. LePage is working to get those cheaters off the Entitlement list. We are in this together and it is time to put aside negativity and work together for solutions for all.
“…so that Maine HS and College grads are prepared to work in the reality of the countries economic failure.”
This is much akin for your call for everyone to bypass bipartisanship – and, “work together.”
I hope you realize that Le Page is allegedly the governor of the State of Maine, and not several “countries?” So much for your argument for the tea party’s national goal of Charter Schools. Money always wins within the tea party’s existence for the 1 %.
Like Romney, you assert that without corporations there are no jobs. Without workers there are no corporations. But like Romney, he claims sole honors for the success of his Bain enterprises. It is always so easy to forget the troops who get killed, maimed, and lost forever in the horrors of war, whilst the generals relish “their” victory.
Le Page, as this editorial astutely points out, is a tool of the tea party. His endless diatribes and criticism are scripted by the TP and the Heritage Center.
The Editorial here is a Cheap shot at a man the Left FEAR. Sure don’t see ANY solutions coming from the Left re: Maine politics. Just those cheap shots.
Could you list his accomplishments?
…well, let’s see. How about that sign he stuck up just as you enter Maine?
Now, wait a minute – ah, yes, got it. His spiriting away of a large mural that depicted Maine’s labor struggles?
Being named as one of the 10 not so very well liked governors in the country?
Hard to keep up. Seems he lengthens the list, daily.
As the Mean Turns. Simply more rant against a man who is doing his job. Gov. Le Page is a man who does not accept nonsense and apparently many in this state agree with him. It is the small percenters who still preach for the entitlements to be allowed for those who should be working. Gov.LePage stands tall and it is obvious you do not approve of his work. The more you rant the more you damage your self.
Are you not the least bit disturbed by the shadowy doings of Maine Heritage Policy Center? What if secretive, clandestine groups like this were formed with anti gun agendas or pro gay marriage, would then you take notice, or is it simply that they are extremist right wing fringe groups that makes this OK in your book?
Oh man, I am shakin in my boots about Maine Heritage Policy Ctr. You surely have been reading too much pablum conspiracy junk. Noone is going to take our guns and the Freedom to vote for or against Gay marriage is our RIGHT. The only Right Wing Fringe is what flies in the wind on a Harley. get over yourself or fly to the moon.
That you would look the other way or apologize for this usurping of democracy and shady political doings is indicative of your character and morality.
Apparently you forgot your meds today.
When the person you are discussing politics with or debating(you don’t debate) goes to the ad hominem attacks and can barely manage one small sentence in a rebuttal, you basically have won. Thanks for playing. Peace,
j
Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness
that created them – Albert Einstein
Remember…WE got OUR governor at MARDENS!!!!
How about you going to a Mardens and tell the Employees that lil ole statement you just made.
Nothing wrong about Mardens for employment. It is a great place to shop. Must be you do not have a job.
I would be happy to do that. I believe the employees at Marden’s, unlike yourself, would understand what I am saying. There’s nothing wrong with Marden’s for employment. In fact I am grateful to Marden’s for supplying the state with so many jobs. Mickey, rest his soul, was a friend. And no – after working for 53 years, I do not have a job. I do get Social Security and I have Medicare. I would assume, because I have these things, you believe me to be a malingerer, despite the fact I paid for these benefits for many, many years.
Remember, hundreds of thousands of Mainers shop at Marden’s, and love it!
It is considered a place to get good bang for the buck!
I don’t disagree at all. I shop at Marden’s and am quite pleased. That’s not what I meant. And you know it.
Le Page was elected through cash help of the Koch brothers. He is one of several Tea Party governors who stick to the TP mandate to erase government.
The Plutocracy – rich for the rich – believe in total privatization. Hence, Le Page’s willing departure from the governor’s association. He stated – he has no use for it.
The tea party is so much like Feudalism: a ruler, and a flock of peasants to do his, or her bidding.
Majority of advice and assistance to this man, is handed to him by the Heritage Foundation, which advocates Koch ideology.
LOLS…………..Koch bros. Is that All you can constantly harp on? Your bash of the Tea Party is beyond logical and shows a mean boy. BUT it IS Okay that many of Hollywood with their Millions , give to the Left. Just Why is it okay for wealthy lefties to give big bucks to Barry and the Lefties continue to harp about wealthy Reps? That is dingbat mentality at its height.
As usual, you miss the point. Your attempted put down is non sequitur.
as is your dribble. Totally not impressed. You rant so much that Independents favor the Right. Thanks so much.
The name calling makes you look to be about 14 years old. Campaign contributions are one thing, but attempting to buy elections and usurping democracy quite another. Right wingers in the internet are especially bad at avoiding the moral equivalency argument. The “two wrongs don’t make a right” deal. We are talkin LePage here. You’ll have to use Robert Redford or George Clooney in some other thread, OK?
Hey boy, don’t forget George Soros who is the puppet for the Rothchilds. Now THAT is how to Buy an election. as for George Clooney, the night he was invited to the White House, Obamas only served 90 dollar per bottles of wine rather than the 125 to 150 price. So Clooney is not tops in Hollywood. FYI. Left wingers do not know much.
Again, the topic is LePage and the MHPC. Focus, man, focus.
If the Great Gov ever really got caught telling the truth, he would lie to get out of it.
He already did that with the mural. And he did it on nationa; TV!
Certainly hope you are not comparing Gov. LePage to formers Gov. Baldacci and Gov. King, the Big Spenders. Gov.Lepage is cleaning up their spending sprees and let me tell you something, he does NOT lie. The liberal hate groups are losing here as they are losing in DC.
Paul! Is that you?
How about you doing the job? go figure.
What has lePage done exactly, in this regard, if you don’t mind breaking it down for us?
This late in the game, after all of the lying that Penguin has done, why in the world would the BDN downplay his dishonesty by claiming that he is ‘twisting the truth?”
Stop the presses! News Flash! Does this mean that the BDN doesn’t like Lepage?
Ha! Someone messed up though because this appeared on the “Opinion” page instead of w/in a “news” story…
I can’t believe that LePage dares to accuse anyone of “working the system to pad your own pockets does not represent Maine values.” This from the mouth that hired his own daughter to feed from the public trough. Nepotism does not represent Maine values, Guv.
The tripe that comes from LePage’s narrow-sighted view just never seems to ring true. It’s as if he has blinders on: on the right side, the MHPC, and on the other right side, ALEC. It sure gives him a real insight into what is best for this state – NOT! Maine’s culture, as perceived by LePage, has a ruling class and a servile class. Note the absence of a middle class in the previous allegation.
When the conservative right makes statements the left claims something is fishy because the sources and/or studies were from unreliable ring winged sources…..when the liberal left makes statements the right claims something is fishy because the sources and/or studies were from unreliable ultra left sources….it’s no wonder nothing gets done from either political party whether at the state or federal level…..so much for the claims of crossing the aisle and working more towards bi-partisan behaviors…..Craziness……
Not exactly. It is simpler. Facts are facts, The truth is the truth. Science is science. Math is math. Reality is real. Until the right accepts these laws to be true, the nation will remain dysfunctional.
You do realize you just proved PabMainers theory, don’t you?
Wow, thank you Clara…..I have been awake all night long trying to figure out what pmb was trying to refute with his/her response….seems the left has a ways to go in discerning truth, fact & reality….
No. I’m not talking about the sources, I am talking about the universally accepted notion of “reality”. The right has played fast and free with this concept since at least Richard Nixon. Talk radio and Fox don’t help. Political discussions with right wingers often go nowhere because they can’t even agree with progressives on what exactly reality is. That is a sure sign that the human race is in trouble. It is like the scientific method, the age of reason and Socratic philosophy never happened. De evolution. It is the opposite of progress.
How about MSNBC and Chris Matthews does that help?
You may not know this but your “universal reality” is non-existant. Reality is different for people depending on where they are, what they see, and who they take as mentors.
A new Lexus might be “beautiful and efficant” to some, but a hunk of pig iron to people who can not afford gas or insurance.
Progress is a totally human concept and subject to individual outlooks. Some see curing disease as progress, others see it as creating over population and thus dooming humanity.
Liberals traditionaly have battled with conservatives over the path humans make into the future. Your pal Socrates (a pedophile) was hounded throughout his life by conservative Greeks who thought differently, but they did think.
German philosophers counseled Lenin, French philosophers counseled Jefferson. If you believe that you have the answers to the “great questions” by all means get published so your ideas will be out there with the rest. Just don’t tell me they are the only or the best ideas. I will be making that assessment based on my own experience.
What about Chris Matthews? Has he uttered dozens of untruths over his career? Can ypu list them? I’m talking about truth, you are trying to confuse it with opinion, preference, philosophy, etc. I’m simply talking about the truth. If it were as subjective as you imply, why bother having courts and trials and hearings? Why not just make it a free for all he said, she said game? I do know that there is a truth that the vast majority of the planets inhabitants agree to. Basic stuff like the earth not being flat, the ocean being deep and Obama not being a Muslim.
I bet you would have a pretty tough time finding anyone who is against curing disease. Liberals have batteled for the common man. Most of the landmark legislation they have brought into being is geared toward the welfare of people and their planet. I haven’t studied the sexual preferences of the philosophers, but think that they were probably much more heavy duty thinkers than you or I. If you don;t care for heavy duty thinking, that is up to you.
I never claimed to have answers to any big questions, just stating what should be obvious. Illegal and immoral activity by politicians, SuperPACs, think tanks and lobbyists isn’t something that needs much deliberation and pondering. It is what it is and at least 47% if not more of us are sick of it. That is a fact, Jack. No room for debate there. I am glad you think for yourself.
Do what you want to do
And go where you’re going to
Think for yourself
‘Cause I won’t be there with you
Can someone tell me what all these lies have been from Gov. LePage?
I could, but then, no I can’t…..well, I can but don’t feel like it…..plus any source I may use would be biased…..well, he really didn’t lie he just twisted the truth……my sources at MSNBC say that, oh wait I cannot quote them…..the folks at MHPC did a study but, oh wait I cannot use them they are too far to the right….there just seem to be too many conservative agendas going up against too many liberal agendas and the whole mess is a big circle jerk…..anyhow, I’m too busy to bother with you right now I’m off to the local Save Big Bird meeting…..
Lies? LePage did tell us that his tax break is not for the rich but for the poor. Let’s start with that.
How much is a person earning $30,000 per year benefiting from the LePage tax break? Do tell.
LePage cut the top income tax rate from 8.5% to 7.95%. The top income tax rate in Maine kicks in at $20,350. My math may be fuzzy but it seems to me that person earning $30,000 would benefit from the tax break.
How about when he made the degrading remark about the students from Maine being inferior and having to take a special entrance exam for college?
They canNot tell as there are NONE. Simple minds call others what they actually are themselves.
How about he “did not seek the T’Baggers vote” lie, and don’t forget the infamous buffalo count, or the little beards just off the top of my head.
I think your reaching a little.
So only now MHPC reports are “hogwash”????? I have always thought their entire organization was neck deep in hog feces.
A hint for the ppl that need to wake up :
The gov. has been dis owned by his own people. They do not count him as their own. They feed him to the sharks. Who do you think told the press on him to make a skit about the dumb gov. of Maine (year ago on comedy central). Who tapped him in the office (when there was only his ppl in the office.) He could not even debate (he skip a whole bunch of debates). The people in the debate told us this was going to happen ; including a republican….
Ppl- people
“Paul LePage continues to be one of the most unpopular Governors in the country with only 37% of voters approving of him to 52% who disapprove. He trails a generic Democratic opponent for reelection by a 48/40 margin, including 45/38 with independents. Of course LePage got elected in 2010 with less than 40% of the vote so if there’s a strong independent candidate and that person and the Democratic candidate cannibalize each other enough LePage could continue to be really unpopular and get himself reelected anyway. Probably related to voters’ unhappiness with LePage, Democrats lead the generic legislative ballot in the state by a 48/37 margin. (http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/susan-collins/)”
Polls using “generic” Democrats, Republicans, or Independents are totally unreliable. It is like asking would you rather have a new car, or a two year old Cadillac. New is always better right?
B.S. pure and simple from you.
So can you come up with credible numbers that prove differently hammock bear?
If you would care to read the positive about our governor, try reading Ellsworth American.
He must have skipped the ethics class at Husson “university”.
Edwards, Chris, “The Best and Worst Governors on Growth: Sam Brownback, Rick Scott, Paul LePage and Tom Corbett all get an ‘A’ as tax cutters.” The Wall Street Journal, October 8, 2012
Federal lawmakers have created an economic mess with their chronic overspending and inability to deliver stable, pro-growth tax policies. Perhaps the elections will break the Washington gridlock and knock loose some solutions. Until then, state capitols are the only place where there is real fiscal progress.
Two governors—Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Chris Christie of New Jersey—have gained national attention for their changes to government pension and union rules. But other state leaders are making breakthroughs on taxes, and they are the focus of Cato’s new “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors.
Four governors received an “A” grade: Sam Brownback of Kansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Paul LePage of Maine and Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania. Messrs. Scott and Corbett have been the most tightfisted on spending, but all four “A” governors are outstanding tax reformers.
• Gov. Sam Brownback cut the top individual tax rate in Kansas to 4.9% from 6.45%, increased the standard deduction and cut taxes on small business income. This tax cut was the biggest tax cut of any state in recent years relative to the size of its economy.
• Gov. Rick Scott ended Florida’s corporate income tax for thousands of small businesses. He is also moving ahead with cuts to property taxes on business equipment, which are a big hindrance to economic growth.
• Gov. Paul LePage cut Maine’s top individual tax rate to 7.95% from 8.5% and simplified income tax brackets. He also signed a bill to cut the top rate to 4% over time if there are sufficient budget surpluses. Mr. LePage’s ultimate goal is to phase out the individual income tax and cut the corporate tax rate in half, to 4%.
• Gov. Tom Corbett slashed Pennsylvania’s Capital Stock and Franchise Tax and hopes to fully repeal it by 2014. That sounds like an obscure reform, but this tax imposed an $800 million annual burden on businesses. Mr. Corbett is right that it “is a job-killer. . . . We don’t need it. We don’t benefit from it, and we must get rid of it.”
That type of can-do attitude toward business tax cuts is exemplified by Michigan’s Gov. Rick Snyder, who received a “B” grade overall. Mr. Snyder scrapped the hated Michigan Business Tax and replaced it with a less costly corporate income tax to save businesses $1.6 billion a year.
His next goal is to reduce the state’s $1 billion burden of personal-property taxes on businesses.
These levies—which are imposed on machinery, equipment and other movable assets—are some of the most anti-growth taxes in America. Everybody benefits when businesses buy machines and expand production, but personal property taxes directly penalize that job-creating activity.
State business taxation is an overlooked area in need of reform. The Council on State Taxation found that state and local levies on businesses totaled $644 billion in 2011, or more than double the annual cost of the federal corporate income tax. True, the federal corporate tax rate is too high relative to other countries’ and is hurting American competitiveness. But business property taxes, sales taxes imposed on business purchases, and myriad other anti-investment levies imposed by state and local governments also impede economic growth.
Unfortunately, there are some states going in the wrong direction on fiscal policy. The Cato report card gave “F” grades to Pat Quinn of Illinois, Dan Malloy of Connecticut, Mark Dayton of Minnesota, Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii and Chris Gregoire of Washington. These governors are big spenders and they all pushed major tax hikes, which have undercut the economic recovery.
Some of these governors are schizophrenic on taxes: They jack up overall business tax rates, then give breaks to favored businesses. Gov. Quinn, for example, pushed up corporate rates within a massive, overall $7 billion tax increase in 2011. He has also handed out special tax breaks to filmmakers and to companies that threaten to leave the state because of high taxes, such as Sears and Motorola.
Happily, other governors—such as Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Terry Branstad of Iowa, Mary Fallin of Oklahoma and John Kasich of Ohio—are pursuing business or personal income tax-rate cuts in order to boost the economy. Now all we need are more federal politicians who could earn passing grades on pro-growth fiscal policy.
How are these states doing exactly? Where are they in terms of national ranking for prosperity, jobs, quality of life index, etc.?
They all took Stimulus money – lots of it.
Try again.
Yessah
Yeah – LePage wants to dump Maine’s RPS, so he can buy cheap renewable electricity – wind and hydro – from his buddies at Quebec Hydro.
Instead of generating this cheapER renewable energy here in Maine.
Clue for the clueless – Quebec has just decided to shut down its only nuclear power plant – cuz it “costs too much” to run.
Never ever let republicans do energy policy.
Yessah
Solyandra ring a bell/ Barry Jumped on that deal JUST to get a Name for his Green efforts. Ironically, the Bush administration had Also been appoached by Solyandra and AFTER much investigation, the BUSH ADMINISTRATION said NO. I just can’t get those FANCY office photos of that bld. out of my memory and each time I see all those solar panels JUST sitting in their wharehouse, when the rest of the solar panel suppliers in the USA were backed up in wait for panels, it is sickening. the Left canNOT find the words to Aplogize for tossing OUR TAX MONEY to a failed and unscrupulous venture. and we all lost money.
Solyndra was sunk by Chinese subsidies to domestic PV manufacturers.
Solyndra’s product was very good – but it could not compete in an unfair trade environment – just like many US companies.
Please try to keep up.
Yessah
that is only a small part of the reason for its failure. The company went too far in their fancy designed office areas and entertainment expenses. China did do serious damage to the cheaper supplies and everyone in America can thank the ones who voted for NAFTA. At least the Bush administration did lengthy investigation that led to them saying NO to Solyandra.
There have been a miniscule percentage of solar investments that didn’t pan out. The vast majority are doing well and keeping the U.S. competitive with the rest of the industrialized world. Just look at Germany:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/26/us-climate-germany-solar-idUSBRE84P0FI20120526
You want them kickin our asses like Singapore and Norway do education wise? That would just be downright unpatriotic, methinks.
A GOP Tea party politician twists the truth? I’m shocked! Shocked I tell you.
Senator Clinton’s plan contains a mandate that forces citizens to buy health insurance. My program does not. I believe Americans(sic) should be free to choose how they spend their money.
Barak Obama September 2007. 9 months before he instituted a health care plan with a mandate.
It is spelled Barack and I do believe you are off topic with your moral equivalency argument. Back to LePage…..
“A (unnamed) GOP Tea party politician twists the truth.” You didn’t bother to identify that politician. I was pointing out that “GOP tea party politicians” are not alone. As to my spelling it seems I spelled his name well enough so you recognized it.
They are virtually alone. Moral equivalency and projection are weasel techniques to deflect criticism, but some of us don’t play that game. LePage is the subject. Let’s talk about him.
LePage “twisting” the truth, again? Shocking! It has been my experience in life that the higher one’s I.Q., the less likely they are to be a liar, so…
SO then I must assume that Ike Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, other George Bush, and Barak Obama are graduates of some special ed program?
I would not include Carter or Eisenhower, but the rest are definitely candidates.
Eisenhower and the Dullas brothers started us down the road of the Soviet myth, He also claimed we had no US soldiers on the ground in South Vietnam. Carter lied about the arms going to Suharto during that dictator’s genocide in East Timor.
You said “liars have lower IQ’s” I disagree. I didn’t like some of these people, BUT none of them were stupid.
there is a reason he is called “liar”lepage
I guess he’s right about the education system here in Maine, the article does say that the information is correct !
I find it interesting that the BDN dares to speak of “bias” with respect to the Maine Heritage Policy Center report. At least the Maine Heritage Policy Center is willing to acknowledge their “conservative” orientation. The BDN editorial board, to the contrary, fail to qualify their own published opinions as coming from a left of center political orientation, as they constantly rail against anything that comes out of the LePage Administration or the GOP in general.
Fact: a wind developer in Maine sells electricity in Mass. and Rhode Island for 9.9 cents per kilo-watt hour wholesale.
Fact: the current wholesale price of electricity in the ISO-NE market is 2.6 cents per kilowatt-hour.
“The Maine Heritage Policy Center has a mission to “promote conservative public policies,”
One may conclude after reading this drivel that the Bangor Daily News has a mission to promote liberal public policies.
And how does the editorial staff shrug off Solyndra? They say, ” Most of it didn’t go to companies, however. More than 60 percent went to state and local governments.” So the 40% that went to companies like Solyndra $36 billion, was no big deal? Talk about half truths and political hogwash, this editorial is full of it.
the same way romney shrugs off things–” a solar panel developer “that landed a state loan from Mitt Romney when he was Massachusetts governor” went belly up, the Boston Herald reports, creating an inconvenient storyline for the GOP presidential nominee. The company, Konarka Technologies, “filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and will cease operations, lay off its 85 workers and liquidate”:
“Konarka has been unable to obtain additional financing, and given its current financial condition, it is unable to continue operations,” CEO Howard Berke said in a statement. “This is a tragedy for Konarka’s shareholders and employees and for the development of alternative energy in the United States.”The demise of Konarka could become a hot topic on the campaign trail because Romney personally doled out a $1.5 million renewable energy subsidy to the Lowell startup in 2003, shortly after taking office on Beacon Hill.
Konarka is the second Massachusetts solar company, along with Evergreen Solar and Beacon Power, to receive taxpayer dollars under Romney’s tenure and subsequently declare bankruptcy.
btw-“both Republican and Democratic administrations advanced Solyndra’s application, and the company was widely praised as successful and innovative both before and after receiving the Department of Energy loan guarantee”
So we are to be treated to a two year stream of LePage bashing in this space?
Seems to me a non-biased paper should be able to find one nice thing to say about our Governor.
Are you a non-biased paper?
LePage should be held to a standard of fair and honest positions. This time he has been called out for misrepresenting the facts.
Not actually. According to the story he is rpresenting facts based on a study (as all politicins do) The BDN just doesn’t like his prefered study group.
BRAVO………….Finally the Truth . Thank you.
Political falsehoods again , hard to believe. Our entire system is full of lies and corrupt. We need to elect people without any experience, and who are not looking for self benefit. The good, he has started to weed out some useless dept heads. The bad, he knows not what is coming out of his mouth. Research and review before you shoot from the hip. Governors do that……
Boy oh Boy politics is so biased and configured to how one wants to be right..how can ruining some of the most pristine areas of Maine be good for this State longterm with wind power that is intermittent, inefficient, not green but destructive and expensive? All over the world proof of this is showing up..
get the government out of this..let’s see if free enterprise can sustain these inefficient technologies>
Since the wind farms of the 70’s in CALIF the destruction to eagles and other flying animals is proven.
If wind were free, or at least low-cost, and nonharming and nontoxic I would be all for it. LePage is right on this one and I agree do your homework- do not listen to biased reports and biased wind companies; other States like Idaho have already given up on these ridiculous standards for “renewables”and Maine should too. Caring about the environment does not mean jumping on the bandwagon of new technoligies with false claims of reducing CO2 emissions or getting us off foreign oil. Wind does neither.
You are not shooting straight. Idaho does not have a renewable energy standard and never did. What they do have is a very good wind resource and farms that produce much electricity that is being shipped to nearby states that use it to meet their RES. A problem is the electrical infrastructure is stressed by transporting large volumes of electricity out of state.
In general your post is inaccurate and biased.
FROM: http://www.pier55.com/technology/energy/benefits-of-renewable-energy
One of the most important benefits of renewable energy is the
fact that it’s non-polluting. And of course as the name tells us it is
renewable and does not use resources that can never be replaced.
Renewable energy has a much lower environmental impact than conventional
sources of energy. But there are other advantages to using renewable
sources of energy.
The benefits of renewable energy extend to stimulating the economy and
creating job opportunities. The money that is invested in renewable
energy is typically spent on materials and staff that build and maintain
equipment instead of importing energy. The money spent on renewable
energy stays in the United States for the most part, often within the
same state or county.
When the oil supply was interrupted in the 1970s the U.S. became more dependent on supplies from foreign nations. This has an impact on energy nationwide. The benefits of
renewable energy will help to alleviate many issues related to this
dependence.
The use of fossil fuels makes the U.S. vulnerable to political
instabilities, trade disputes, embargoes and a variety of other impacts.
The fact that we rely on other countries for our energy has not done us
any favors in recent years. As a nation we stand to benefit greatly
from making the change to using renewable fuels to supply our energy
needs.
I’m not advocating a favoritism of fossil fuels; there are plenty of negatives associated with them. But with all due respect, I don’t think the case you’re building against them is entirely correct or fair – remember, this editorial was taking LePage to task for “twisting the truth.” It’s a two way street.
You seem to imply that most of our country’s energy is imported and that is simply not true. Almost all of our natural gas and coal are sourced domestically. To the best of my knowledge most of our nuclear reactors and hyroelectric dams are domestic, as well. We import less than half of our petroleum and the fraction we get from the Middle East is around 7%. So this picture of an overwhelming dependence on foreign countries for our energy is a bit over the top. (Interestingly, Spanish-owned Iberdrola Renewables is the second largest wind turbine operator in the U.S. and received more U.S. taxpayer funded subsidies through the 1603 treasury grant program than any other developer, domestic or foreign.)
Remember that most new renewables wouldn’t, and couldn’t, exist without fossil fuels. An official working on the Block Island offshore wind project recently stated that the tower and ocean floor attachment of ONE of their offshore turbines would require 1000 tons of steel. Try to mine, manufacture and transport THAT without fossil fuels.
You think renewable energy can stimulate the economy? Try running our country for one day on nothing but our current renewable mix. Talk about economy-killing. Do a huge build-out of renewable energy and try the same thing – you’d pretty much get the same result. (Of course, renewable energy manufacturing and development would have to shut down if they relied on renewables for their energy.) That’s not a criticism of renewables, it’s just an honest observation of their limitations.
Ok. Most of the electricity we buy in Maine is made somewhere else. Producing electricity from fossil fuels is cooking the planet. When the environmental cost are added to fossil fuels renewables are already cheaper.
If a person is placing a solar electric panel on a roof they have a job. The money they make goes into the local economy. The money the owner of that solar panel saves goes into the local economy.
Wind and solar and other renewable technologies that produce electricity are beginning to produce significant amounts of electricity. The cost of solar panels that produce electricity has dropped 10% yearly, 60% for the past 6 years.
We are in the early stages of making a switch to clean energy. The big guys like Exxon and the Koch boys want the game to remain the same.
I say we should take charge of our energy needs. Why keep paying out of staters for dirty energy.
Why not make it here and use it here. What happened to the so called INDEPENDENT MAINER?
I’m good with decreasing fossil fuel consumption wherever we can do so reasonably – there are lots of good reasons for doing that. We can also throw out the baby with the bathwater if we’re not careful.
You said “Producing electricity from fossil fuels is cooking the planet.” So, quantitatively speaking, to what extent will Maine mountaintop wind development, for instance, address that? Are some benefits so small that they don’t really warrant the expense (not just monetary expense.) Given its relatively small benefit, is it possible that an alternative exists that might provide the same benefits with fewer negative impacts?
We should be adopting policies that quickly move us toward clean renewable energy. Wind, solar, and other technologies that produce electricity from renewable sources should be supported.
Many countries and some states have feed-in tariff laws. These laws promote the local production of electricity which is used near where it is produced. The money from jobs created and the sale of the electricity stays in local economies rather than going to the major corporations that monopolize the production and distribution of energy
The only way we will ever become energy independent is to take the necessary steps to produce our own energy here in Maine. Our Governor either does not get it or he is bought by the special interests that profit from the sale of fossil fuels.
4 Milk Street, Portland, Maine 2nd floor.
So sad an elected official can’t be bothered with critical thinking beyond ideology. It would be nice to have a governor who didn’t continually attack his predecessors, too. Time to take responsibility for your own actions, Gov. LePage, and stop living in the past.
LePage and the Maine Heritage Policy Center have never thought facts were important and their idea of facts always seem to have a spin to it- because they manufacture their ‘facts’- go figure.
When you lefty’s get done bashing the MHPC you might want to look at your electric bill and see just how much this farce called wind power is costing us. Now and how much in the future we have to shell out.This is another example of renewable waste coming from 1600 sesame street Washington D.C. The liberals in this state cursed the king when he dropped Maine’s mountains to sea level.Now they are crediting him with saving energy costs in Maine.This is just why they should never be allowed to control Maine government ever again.
If you think he is twisting the truth learn from other countries
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/9597461/Soviet-style-wind-farm-subsidies-to-face-the-axe.html
The Telegraph is a conservative mouth piece much like Fox is here.
A few examples of renewable energy uptake world wide:
At the end of August, the Scottish Government announced that five
marine energy developers will benefit from a total of £7.9 million in
funding to further develop testing of new wave and tidal prototypes in
the seas around Scotland.
The second round of WATERS (Wave & Tidal Energy: Research,
Development & Demonstration Support) funding has been released to
‘enable Scottish developers and supply chain firms to capture an
increased share of the growing international marine energy market,’
which could be worth up to £4 billion for the Scottish economy by 2020.
Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world’s biggest wind turbine maker,
topped gainers in Copenhagen as Danish Prime Minister Helle
Thorning-Schmidt said tough economic conditions shouldn’t deter
investment in renewable energy.
Wellington, NZ —
New Zealand’s energy industry reduced its greenhouse gas emissions
for the third straight year in 2011 as polluters decreased their
reliance on coal and gas in favor of renewable sources.
The
UK’s stated policy aims at the start of the feed-in tariff scheme in
2010 were twofold: to create more demand for modules in order to ramp up
production and bring their unit price down; and to increase public
awareness of renewable energy. In 2011 both these aims succeeded beyond
expectations. As a result, the tariff rate has been reduced from 43p to
16p per kWh for common domestic installations. Yet the costs of modules
have also almost halved (although the balance of system costs have not).
I love when moonbats disparage anything that does not support their ideology.
Based on the type of argument put forth above, we should also automatically ignore any study ever done by the Sierra Club or any environmental group because they also have an agenda.
It is a fact that environmental regulations increase the cost of gas and electricity. Just look at what is happening in California.
Do you also hate it when facts are stated or is it only the source of the facts that bother you?
Is Adrienne going to untwist this for the gov?
LeBuffoon twists the truth? Gee, there’s a “shocker.” ALL HE DOES IS LIE. What else is new?
And what LePage FAILS to mention is that with more widespread use of renewable energy, the COSTS COME DOWN.
Clarafire, can you tell us how much of a break YOU got???? It should have, but didn’t….especially now, when the cuts he and his cronies made to budgets have now resulted in increased local taxes for all of us. You can huff and puff all you want about LePage cutting taxes, but when he slashed his budgets, the shortfall fell on us through local taxation. My property taxes went up 18% this year, and the selectboard (REpublican) is blaming it solely on state cuts. So it’s a shell game. LePage’s cuts were coarse and poorly thought out, like everything else he does.