Four solar power bills are in the pipeline in Maine, three of which (L.D. 1263, L.D. 1073 and L.D. 1355) foster further solar development, while the fourth (L.D. 1400) would basically dismantle net metering and devastate all types of renewable energy.

Gov. LePage’s pet bill is the latter, and dismantling net metering means that solar producers would cease to be compensated for the excess electricity sent to the grid.

As a successful solar panel owner for three years, I’ve enjoyed both the benefits of 33 panels (which cover 79 percent of my needs and leverage net metering), and I’ve enjoyed watching panels appear on schools, fire stations and homes throughout Maine.

L.D. 1400 is a deceptive attempt to protect monopoly production while stifling independent power generation and free enterprise. It would hurt a thriving solar job force, a job force which would likely leave the state for those with more appropriate policies.

Anyone lucky enough to see Elon Musk’s recent rollout of Tesla’s new home battery systems will get a sense of where energy is going. He presents a compelling case that with enough panels and enough batteries, we don’t need any fossil fuel-burning electricity plants.

Sound far-fetched? Watch it. In fact, if you are voting on these initiatives, you should be required to watch it. (Search “Watch Elon Musk announce Tesla Energy” – surely one of the more compelling CEO presentations in years.)

So let’s stop protecting the electricity monopolies and foster the democratization of power production. One would have been ignorant to prop up the buggy manufacturers when the Ford Model T exploded on the scene – let’s not be equally ignorant by propping up legacy electricity monopolies.

Vote “no” on L.D. 1400 and “yes” on solar jobs and entrepreneurship, and let’s move forward with smart energy legislation.

Peter Guyton

Falmouth

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