PORTLAND, Maine - A solar energy company, a coalition of major industrial energy users and an environmental advocacy group are asking Maine's highest court to throw out recent changes utility regulators made to the state's solar power incentives.
The Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation is the lead challenger to the Maine Public Utilities Commission's decision to reduce the value of credits residential solar power generators get when they put excess electricity on the power grid.
The state Legislature plans to hear testimony this week on several bills that would reform the state's solar power marketplace. CLF attorney Emily Green says the outcome of that vote could help determine the future of the challenge filed with the Supreme Judicial Law Court.
"We remain optimistic that the Legislature will enact comprehensive and progressive solar policy this session and, if that happens, in all likelihood it very well may moot the appeal of the commission's rules," Green says.
CLF argues the PUC's rollback ignores its own consultant's findings that residential solar power benefits all electricity consumers, and violates state policy encouraging solar power investment.
