Maine: LePage unveils four energy bills

Gov. Paul LePage has unveiled four pieces of legislation aimed at reducing energy costs and expanding options for Mainers. In a press release, LePage said the bills would also help entice more business creation in Maine.

The four pieces of legislation are:

• An Act to Lower the Price of Electricity for Maine Consumers, which would remove the 100-megawatt cap for qualifying renewable generation, specifically hydro power. Currently, hydro power under 100 megawatts is considered renewable, but hydro power above that limit is not. The move would help lower rates, according to the governor.

IEA: Renewables fastest growing energy sector

Renewable energy is now firmly entrenched as the world's fastest growing energy sector, according to a major new report from the International Energy Agency released this week.

The book, entitled Deploying Renewables 2011: Best and Future Policy Practice, analyses current trends in renewable energy and sets out a series of proposals designed to help governments develop effective renewable energy policy.