Defying historically low rates of solar generation, a bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers is putting forth a bill designed to promote solar expansion in the Pine Tree State. The bill is aimed at paving the way for large-scale solar farms, as well making homeowner installation simpler — with supporters saying it will result in an additional 250 megawatts of solar power generated over the next five years.

Value to the Ratepayers

At the heart of the initiative — which has the support of electric power consumers, utilities, solar panel installers, and environmentalists, as well as Democrat and Republican lawmakers — is a push to eliminate net metering and replace it with hourly metering and a 20-year price guarantee on the generation compensation rates for new customers. The debate over net metering has been particularly heated in states like California, yet Maine appears to represent an emerging consensus over the importance of the growth of solar as a boon to the state and its inhabitants.

“It’s time that we update Maine’s approach to solar and other distributed generation resources,” says State Rep. Nathan Wadsworth, R-Hiram, the ranking Republican on the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. “We’re looking at savings of close to $100 million for ratepayers and job creation for our own Maine-based business.”

“Under nearly every scenario we evaluated, it gave value to ratepayers,” said Public Advocate Tim Schneider, speaking to the committee tasked with reviewing and discussing the bill. Schneider claims that hourly metering is a unique possibility due to the smart meters used by Central Maine Power.

Energy Independence

“Our challenge here has been growing solar in a way that gives people energy independence, creates jobs and mitigates climate change,” said Assistant House Majority Leader Sara Gideon, D-Freeport to the Portland Press Herald. “Now we’ve created a way to do that and to do it in a way that remains sustainable in the future and will drive significant solar growth.”

The projected five-year jump from 8 megawatts to 250 megawatts is likely to do just that, including supplying enough electricity to power nearly 40,000 homes. Roughly 40 percent of the power generated will be from residential development projects, while the rest would be a mixture of larger-scale solar farms and community solar projects.

A Community Effort

The community farm aspect is an important part of the bill: As under current law, community solar farms are now limited to a maximum of 10 participants. The bill would eliminate that mandate and allow businesses and institutions to support projects of all sizes and configurations.

Other prospects include an ambitious push to install solar arrays on capped landfills. As described by Rockland city councilor Larry Pritchett, the nearly 1,800 acres of capped landfills across the state could yield up to $30 million in revenue through municipality generated solar power.

The bill still needs a supermajority of legislator support to override an anticipated veto from Republican Gov. Paul LePage — whose record on support for solar initiatives has been spotty. However, the bipartisan support has backers feeling optimistic. Combined with the promise of economic growth, job creation, and savings for businesses and communities, you would be hard-pressed to find a reason to argue the virtue of the bill.

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