AUGUSTA – Gov. Paul R. LePage on Monday called upon the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to intervene in New England to address rising energy prices before a winter gets underway — a step he said is necessary because of recent actions taken by Massachusetts.
“New England households and our businesses are about to experience a catastrophic increase in electric bills,” LePage said in a press release.
“We need action now. It’s well past the time that New England should have added natural gas pipeline capacity,” he said. “FERC must step up and address the unprecedented situation that liberals in Massachusetts have created.”
This comes a month after Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, backed out of an agreement between the New England governors to advance natural gas infrastructure in the region to lower energy costs. Under pressure from environmental groups, the governor claimed that he needed to study the issue more, and could not commit to the plan as of yet.
LePage has attacked his Massachusetts counterpart several times since that decision, accusing him of playing politics instead of making progress towards lower energy prices.
Patrick has endorsed LePage’s Democratic opponent in this years gubernatorial contest, Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud.
Without Massachusetts signing off to natural gas infrastructure in their state, there is no way for a pipeline to reach Maine and northern New England, said LePage.
“This situation is similar to a massive Nor’easter having just hit Massachusetts and their Governor refusing to plow the highways, blocking access to Northern New England,” said the governor. “While prices are spiking, liberals in Massachusetts have opposed natural gas infrastructure, saying they need to study the issue more. This is unconscionable.”
While waiting for a decision from Patrick, LePage has taken steps to add natural gas infrastructure to Maine in the hopes that Patrick will eventually come around, according to the press release. He said he has reached out to Spectra Energy requesting that they add natural gas capacity, and he has called on the FERC to address the New England energy crisis.
In his letter, the governor asked FERC to fast track regulatory approval and consider natural gas storage, both of which could prepare the state should Patrick join other New England governors in pursuing advancements to the region’s natural gas infrastructure.
Gov. “mini me” Devil Patrick of Massatwoshits has his nose so far up Obama’s rump he needs to wear a snorkel. The same idiotic reasoning and detrimental view of what best helps the citizens of Maine is what a Gov. Michaud administration will plunge us back into if the lunatics win the election in November.
As a senior, I am concerned over increased energy costs in Maine. I totally appreciate the Governor’s efforts on us “limited income” folks.
The BNEGs (Brand Name Environmental Groups) who are calling Deval Patrick’s shots have no clue about how the electric grid works. They insist that thousands of Maine windmills will get the job done. That is like promising to fly someone to Paris on a skateboard. It just doesn’t work.
In their zeal to make us more green, they disregard math and physics for sure, but they also disregard facts: only two states in the nation have CO2 emissions from electricity generation that are less than Maine…Maine has the #1 highest Renewable Portfolio Standard in the USA…99% of Maine electricity generation already comes from clean generators OTHER than oil & coal…
If we need new electricity generation we need it to work. About 15% of New England’s generation fleet is due to close soon. These are almost all old base load or peak load plants. Not all “renewables” can provide base load (24/7) or peak load (on demand) power. That is why we need to expand gas supply from the south and hydro supply from the north.
What’s up with the BNEGs? Follow the money: http://www.friendsofmainesmountains.org/fmm/2014/9/11/why-are-texans-trying-to-influence-maines-governor-race
What hypocricy on Gov. Patrick’s part! If he’s at all concerned about the environment he would endorse and promote natural gas, which has dropped CO2 levels in southern New England by displacing coal fired plants. No doubt Patrick is all for using Maine as a door mat for generating Massachusetts’ renewable energy credits from industrial wind turbines erected on our mountains. These turbines are an environmental and economical disaster, guaranteed to raise electricity prices and threaten our state’s most important industry, tourism. Governor LePage is smart enough to realize that Maine needs cheaper energy costs. He’s looking out for Maine citizens and businesses, not pandering to special interest groups like industrial wind developers. I thank him for that.
Until Massachusetts agrees to allow energy sources to flow through their state to Maine, Maine needs to prohibit any further destruction of habitat and scenic vistas to build windmills for the benefit of Massachusetts and their renewable energy mandates.
If they are so concerned about the environment and alternate energy, let them foul their own landscape.
Patrick is so far into Obamas pocket. They don’t care that people are harmed libs are never held accountable.
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