Dear
Editor,
I
would like to thank Representative Patrick Corey for supporting LD 1504, An Act
to Modernize Rates for Small-scale Distributed Generation, which received
enough bipartisan support in the legislature to be veto-proof. In the face of a
veto override vote, Central Maine Power is spending a significant quantity of
ratepayers’ money in lobbying efforts to try and change legislators’ votes from
yes to no.
The
scope of this bill is very narrow. The most significant piece of this bill does
away with the PUC's [Public Utility Commission] misguided rule that assesses a
fee on all energy generated by a solar array; even if that energy is consumed
in real time behind the meter. This is akin to super markets charging a fee
when you grow your own tomatoes instead of buying them from the store. If this
bill does not pass, all ratepayers (solar and non-solar) will collectively pay
millions to have CMP install new and invasive metering equipment.
I
have worked in the solar industry for over a decade now. The growing industry
has allowed for significant job growth in our community. These jobs provide a
fair wage, cannot be outsourced, and are reducing the migration of our
brightest minds and hard workers away from the state of Maine.
On
behalf of everyone in Maine that could be impacted by this vote, I would like
to urge Representative Corey to not be led astray by the utility lobbyist and
maintain his yes vote on this bill.
Thank
you,
Geoff
Sparrow
Windham
Resident
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