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Maine House fails on efficiency bill, Congress passes similar bill
Environment Maine worked with a coalition of environmental, health and consumer groups on an energy efficiency bill (LD 1435) that sets minimum efficiency standards for 19 common household and commercial appliances to cut energy waste. Despite giving the bill preliminary approval, the House failed to pass the bill. In the Senate, the bill won wide bipartisan support with a vote of 25-10.
The legislation would have saved Maine’s businesses and homeowners nearly $450 million, more than $17 million each year for the next 25 years, and cut 200,000 metric tons of global warming pollution in 2020. Benefits to consumers and the environment will continue to add up as more new, efficient products are purchased and installed.
Since the House overlooked the bill, three other states adopted nearly identical laws, and Congress approved energy efficiency standards on 14 of the appliances included in the Maine bill. Environment Maine will propose efficiency standards on the remaining five and other appliances in the near future.
“This legislation is a win for the environment, public health and Maine consumers,” said Matthew Davis, Environment Maine Advocate. “All of these more efficient products are commercially available, so customers won’t have to give up the styles or performance they want.”
Small step for clean energy
Environment Maine joined Gov. John Baldacci, a group of bipartisan legislators, and solar energy experts for the signing of a law to promote household solar hot water and electric systems (LD 1586). The law will provide rebates to homeowners installing these systems, thus promoting renewable energy and reducing demand for electricity and natural gas.
For homeowners installing a solar hot water system with a cost of about $5,000, the rebate would be $1,250. For those installing a $24,000 solar electric system with a capacity of 2,400 watts, the rebate would top off at $6,400.
By signing this law, Gov. Baldacci signals Maine’s move away from dirty energy and towards clean renewable energy, but there is more to be done. A more comprehensive bill promoting clean energy (LD 1065) was held over to next session for further research and discussion. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Michael Brennan, would set a requirement that 10 percent of our state’s electricity come from clean energy sources such as wind or solar, by 2015.
Environment Maine will work to pass this legislation in the next session, and if it fails, may start a referendum process to allow Maine voters to support clean energy directly.
Exposing ExxonMobil
Exposing and changing ExxonMobil’s irresponsible and deceptive behavior is the mission of a new campaign called “Exxpose Exxon,” launched outside an ExxonMobil service station in July by Environment Maine and the Sierra Club. A coalition of 12 of America’s largest environmental groups, representing 6.4 million members, including over 9,000 in Maine, launched the campaign at stations across the country.
“For years, ExxonMobil has intentionally put its own profits above a clean environment and the health of America’s families. As a result, we are asking all Americans not to work for ExxonMobil, invest in the company, or to buy ExxonMobil’s gas and products,” said Matthew Davis of Environment Maine. |
