PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 16, 2024
Gas utilities, environmentalists, consumer advocates and others are negotiating the outlines of a study in proposed legislation on how Maine might restrict the build-out of natural gas systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill proposes to ban gas companies from charging ratepayers to build and expand service mains and lines beginning Feb. 1, 2025, and instead require business and residential customers that benefit from new infrastructure to pay the costs. Scaling back natural gas build-outs has strong support from environmentalists who are looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.