“It turns out there’s a downside to Maine’s solar power boom — a potential $160 million annual hit for electricity consumers here. And it’s a cost hike that in turn could conceivably slow the state’s efforts to reduce global warming pollution from cars and buildings.
Call it a case of being careful what you wish for. Last year, as part of a broad effort to address global warming, the Legislature proposed and Gov. Janet Mills enacted several measures to boost the state’s solar power sector. They expanded incentive programs that give owners of solar installations credits when they put excess energy onto the transmission grid.
It’s called “net energy billing” and it has sparked something of a land rush, as developers tried to set stakes in likely, south-facing properties all over the state where they could develop projects up to the 5 megawatt maximum allowed.”
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Bever, Fred. Maine Public Radio 24 November 2020.