The city estimates it could save $500,000 a year by joining the state’s first renewable energy consortium, which was made possible by legislation that allows municipalities and businesses to receive cash credits for using solar energy.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inMaine, News, Uncategorized
Cost estimate rises by $660,000 for planned Portland roundabout
Portland’s City Council will consider additional funding for construction of the roundabout near the University of Southern Maine campus.
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Posted inMaine, News, Uncategorized
Portland council will vote on plan to move public comment back to the end of meetings
The proposal, which would undo a change made by former Mayor Ethan Strimling to take comments prior to council meetings, would also prohibit people from addressing items pending before a council subcommittee.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Solar collective could provide Portland with cheaper, cleaner electricity
A city official estimates that joining a consortium with other large-scale electricity users, such as L.L. Bean and Nestle Waters, could save the city roughly $500,000 a year.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland voters asked to expand ranked-choice voting
If approved, the method that has been used in Portland’s mayoral elections since 2011 would be expanded to all City Council and school board races.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Portland councilors likely to reject plan to ban rental application fees
A public hearing will be held in April, but two of the three councilors on the Housing Committee oppose the proposal.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Portland councilors consider banning rental fees to ease burden on home hunters
Advocates say Portland would be the first city in Maine to bar landlords from charging application fees, which can add hundreds of dollars to an apartment search.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Maine lawmakers seek to change law that lets police conceal use of high-tech surveillance
Two Democrats push for transparency after the Maine Sunday Telegram reports that Maine State Police will neither confirm nor deny the use facial recognition scans and other tools.
Posted inMaine, News
Identity of Valentine’s Day Phantom is Portland’s most beloved mystery
Those who know won’t say, and those who don’t know want to keep it that way.
Posted inMaine, News
Maine State Police may be spying on you
Privacy advocates worry that law enforcement monitors innocent residents, and Maine is one of only two states that won’t reveal whether it’s using this advanced technology.