RadioActive 3/17/16

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Public Hearing on LD 1649 An Act to Modernize Maine Solar Power Policy and Encourage Economic Development

Key Discussion Points:
1) Today we hear excerpts from yesterday’s public hearing on LD 1649 An Act to Modernize Maine Solar Power Policy and Encourage Economic Development before the legislature’s Joint Committee3 on energy Utilities and Technology.
2) LD 1649 is the product of a long negotiation of stakeholders, including solar installers, electric power companies (Central Maine Power and Emera Maine), the State Office of the Public Advocate, and environmental organizations.
3) Maine lags far behind other states in the region in solar power, much of this attributed to the lack of supportive public policy and consequent financial support.

Guests:
Pete Lafond, Falmouth
Joe Hardy, Wells
Brooks Winter, Island Institute
Julie Rosenbach, Sustainability coordinator, South Portland
Glenn Brand, Sierra Club Maine
Kimberly Darling, Falmouth
Nancy Smith,Grow Smart
Vaughn Woodruff, Insource Renewables

http://legislature.maine.gov/bills/testimony.html?snum=127&PID=1456#
http://legislature.maine.gov/bills/display_ps.asp?PID=1456&snum=127&paper=HP1120