PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 18, 2021
In its eagerness to address climate change, the Maine Legislature has given a multimillion-dollar windfall to solar farm developers that threatens to raise electric rates as much as 20 percent. It is not too late to amend this legislation before all these solar farms are built. This looming rate increase comes on top of the recently announced 30 percent rate increase in the average household Central Maine Power bill. We can address climate change and provide Maine with reliable power supplies while holding down electric rates, but not by providing huge subsidies to out-of-state developers. ~ Joseph W. McDonnell, professor of public policy and management, University of Southern Maine