PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 29, 2024
Battery storage that holds and releases solar and wind power when the sun won’t shine and a breeze doesn’t stir is drawing increased investment from developers as Maine tries to reach its clean energy goals. The question of who can own energy storage is now beforestate regulators. Central Maine Power and Versant Power have asked the Public Utilities Commission for permission to own battery storage, something that hasn’t been possible since the Legislature deregulated the utilities more than 25 years ago. Critics are pushing back and urging regulators to allow competitive energy storage markets to function undisturbed.