During 2019, I was one of thousands in Maine who received ads promising solar power at 85% of the current standard offer rate. It was a no brainer – save money with green energy, and I would always pay less than the standard offer.
Initially, I was told my solar project would begin operation in 2020, then 2021. I am still waiting.
When the standard offer shot up due to fuel costs, I thought that if solar could make money with a standard offer of 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, then they would make a lot when the standard offer went to 17 cents per kWh. Your recent article (“Soured on solar? Costs, technical delays dampen outlook in Maine,” April 14) shed light on many of the reasons I am still waiting for that green electricity.
Throughout the article I was looking for someone in charge. Generating and distributing electricity must be an integrated whole, yet I never read what organization would straighten this out. A number of the details were also disturbing. Why is Central Maine Power just completing studies that should have been done four years ago? Why was the Public Utilities Commission not a major part of this story, as both the grid and the electric generators are within their purview? If the politicians and agencies can’t successfully introduce solar power to Maine, how will they ever take over the Maine grid?
Bill Dugan
Kennebunkport
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