Month: June 2019

Certainly there remains much to work on in the second session. But, beyond the many accomplishments within the biennial budget, I am greatly satisfied with the progress made this year on my own priorities related to renewable energy, climate emissions reductions, and strategic economic planning for increased research and development.

I look forward to further …

Along with renewing the state’s commitment to off-shore wind, this is how Maine will accomplish our substantial ten-year and thirty-year goals for reducing carbon emissions.

Good work all around this legislative session. This will be good for Maine’s economy.

Bills to energize renewable-power development in Maine go to governor, Press Herald, 19 June 2019…

…signed by the Governor

…

June 14, 2019

Maine Legislature Passes Strong, Bipartisan Two-Year Budget

AUGUSTA – The Maine House and Senate voted today to pass the bipartisan budget agreement reached by the Appropriations Committee, sending the budget to Governor’s desk to be signed into law. The vote was 104-38 in the House and 25-9 in the Senate in favor …

I’m proud of the collaborative effort that this budget represents. Building on four weeks of public hearings, my colleagues on the Appropriations committee from both parties worked diligently and in good faith, line by line, for nearly five months. Throughout we benefited from bipartisan recommendations from each legislative policy committee and we received enormous cooperation …

“…It is important to appreciate that lawmakers and the governor worked on building a two-year budget in a collegial, cooperative way. There were no public ultimatums, no threats of a government shutdown. Of course, not everyone got what they wanted. …But, the budget — and its bipartisan support in the Appropriations Committee — signals a …

“…The line is projected to reduce New England’s carbon footprint by around 3 million metric tons a year, which is the equivalent of removing 700,000 cars from the road.

“…Opposing the line in both Massachusetts and Maine regulatory proceedings is NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest producer of solar and wind energy, which also has …