Maine Wind Industry Alarmed As Utility Regulators Consider Rethinking Approved Projects

Maine's reshaped Public Utilities Commission wants to reconsider two proposed wind projects it approved two months ago.........Payne said he believes LePage, who has long opposed wind power because of its high cost, is trying to interfere in the process.......

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/02/20/maine-wind-industry-alarmed-as-utility-regulators-consider-rethinking-approved/

NOTE: This AP story has also been picked up by the Portland Press Herald:

http://www.pressherald.com/2015/02/20/wind-industry-sees-political-interference-in-maine-pucs-move-to-reconsider-2-projects/

AND

MAINE COMMISSION COULD REOPEN ENERGY PROPOSALS, BUT CRITICS SAY LEPAGE IS MEDDLING

http://news.mpbn.net/post/maine-commission-could-reopen-energy-proposals-critics-say-lepage-meddling

AND

An editorial from the ever wind cheer leading BDN:

LEPAGE'S MEDDLING IN ENERGY CONTRACTS FITS DANGEROUS PATTERN

By The BDN Editorial Board,

Published Feb. 20, 2015, at 4:49 p.m.

In a Dec. 8 letter to the commission the PUC since has made confidential, LePage raised concerns that long-term contracts did not include nonrenewable, existing sources of electricity. "Accordingly, I request that you expand your current request for proposals to include any clean energy resource, including existing hydropower and nuclear, and review whether these potential contracts could have benefits for the ratepayers in Maine and our broader economy," the governor wrote..............

HTTP://BANGORDAILYNEWS.COM/2015/02/20/THE-POINT/LEPAGES-MEDDLING-IN-ENERGY-CONTRACTS-FITS-DANGEROUS-PATTERN/