The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Mills’ Late-Term Abortion Bill Gets Last Minute Work Session for Thursday Afternoon
  • Maine Republicans Score Tentative Victory in Delaying Trans Trafficking Bill
  • Lawmakers Nix Public School Transparency Bill Favored by Bipartisan Majority of Mainers
  • Asylum Seekers Staying in Sanford Inn Will Soon Have to Find Another Place To Stay
  • Chellie Pingree Says “No One Is Coming For Your Gas Stove” But Daughter Hannah Pingree Disagrees
  • New England Energy Prices Have Increased as Demand Has Declined Due to Climate Policies, Report Finds
  • Gardiner High School Implements Controversial New “American Flag Only” Policy Following Student Clash
  • Taxes in Portland Could Rise by 10 Percent If State Declines to Help With Asylum Seeker Crisis: WGME
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Wednesday, June 7
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Market Must Drive Energy Costs, Not Handouts
Commentary

Market Must Drive Energy Costs, Not Handouts

Paul LePageBy Paul LePageMarch 22, 2017No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Protecting our natural resources is a priority. It is also a priority for me to make sure Mainers can afford to live in this great state we call home.

Maine’s electricity rates are among the highest in the nation. In fact, we rank number 11 in highest costs. When you see your electricity bill, you should know these rates are artificially high. The reason is what liberals like to call “subsidies” or “stranded costs.”

These subsidies are taxpayer dollars funneled to the solar and wind industry to make sure they do not go bankrupt. Alternative forms of energy are worthwhile, but they are expensive—and you pay the price.

A 2015 study by the Energy Information Administration found that wind is federally subsidized at a rate more than 70 times that of natural gas and oil. Solar is even worse. It is subsidized at more than 340 times the rate of natural gas and oil. This is the highest level of all renewable subsidies.

I have said it once, and I will say it again: I support all forms of renewable energy. However, when electricity rates are increased because of energy like solar and wind, consumers are paying for it twice. On the front end, consumers pay for the government welfare these companies need to stay afloat. On the back end, you pay more in higher electric bills.

Some liberals, such as the Natural Resources Council of Maine, want you to believe we are lagging behind as a producer of renewable resources. Not true. Maine uses only about 10 percent of the electricity in New England, but it is by far the biggest producer of renewable electricity in New England. We produce almost half of the total renewable electricity generated in New England.

Nearly 70 percent of the electricity produced in Maine is from renewable resources. Maine is the leader!

Liberal critics want to promote wind and solar as the only renewable resources. However, it is financially irresponsible to favor expensive solar and wind, while we are making good use of Maine’s indigenous resources—nearly 30 percent of the electricity we generate is from our hydroelectric plants, and another 27 percent comes from biomass.

If anyone in New England wants to pursue solar and wind, I encourage them to do so, but you should not have to pay for it through subsidies or stranded costs.

All forms of renewable energy have a place in the market, as long as they are not overpriced and companies are not living off taxpayer dollars.

Commentary Featured
Previous ArticleGorsuch Confirmation Battle Begins
Next Article Question 2 is Already Damaging Maine’s Economy
Paul LePage

Governor Paul LePage (R) has served as the 74th Governor of Maine since 2011. Prior to his time as governor, LePage served as the general manager of Marden's and as the mayor of Waterville.

Related Posts

Question A Helps Fix the Mess Socialists Made in Portland

June 6, 2023

Flashback: BlackRock CEO Says Investment Firm Forces Companies to Change Behavior on Diversity with Threats of Impacts to Compensation

June 5, 2023

Democrats, Inequity, and Exclusion: Desjardin

June 5, 2023

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Mills’ Late-Term Abortion Bill Gets Last Minute Work Session for Thursday Afternoon

June 7, 2023

Maine Republicans Score Tentative Victory in Delaying Trans Trafficking Bill

June 7, 2023

Lawmakers Nix Public School Transparency Bill Favored by Bipartisan Majority of Mainers

June 7, 2023

Asylum Seekers Staying in Sanford Inn Will Soon Have to Find Another Place To Stay

June 7, 2023

Chellie Pingree Says “No One Is Coming For Your Gas Stove” But Daughter Hannah Pingree Disagrees

June 7, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.