A showdown is looming today between Gov. Paul LePage and the Maine Legislature over the future of solar electric power.
The governor vetoed a bill lawmakers passed this session that aims to reverse a Public Utilities Commission plan that, among other things, would have begun charging solar panel owners for the electricity they use from their solar installations.
"It's expensive, it's largely unworkable and it's probably illegal," says Fortunat Mueller, one of the founding partners of ReVision Energy, a Maine-based solar company. "So it'll be challenged in court even it does survive. So what we're asking the Legislature to do is not let this rule go into effect."
The bill the Legislature passed blocks the commission's rule. It would begin phasing out credits that solar panel owners get for excess electricity they feed to the grid.
Gov. LePage opposes any credits, and has said that he considers them hidden subsidies for wealthy people. He also opposed the Public Utilities Commission's rule.
Maine lawmakers will vote today on whether or not to override the governor's veto.
