Maine Utilities, Business, and Community Members Oppose LD2077, Ban Against Maine’s Energy Options

LD2077 restricts energy choices for Maine voters

1/23/2024

Augusta, Maine (January 23, 2024) – On Tuesday, Mainers from different industries and community organizations testified online, in writing, and at the Statehouse in opposition to a bill limiting energy choice by banning expansion of gas infrastructure. LD2077: An Act Regarding Costumer Costs and the Environmental and Health Effects of Natural Gas seeks to prohibit the expansion of gas pipeline infrastructure to new communities, and prohibit gas utilities from offering rebates to customers to reduce their cost to convert to gas, despite the fact that natural gas is a lower emissions alternative to other fuels sources and is the most affordable way to warm homes, heat water, and cook food other than using wood.

Stakeholders are urging lawmakers to reject this legislation because of its harmful economic and environmental consequences.

“Bans like LD 2077 punish companies like Summit that are investing in emissions reduction technologies, creating jobs, and offering lower cost energy solutions to families and industry throughout the state. And it is wholly unnecessary,” said Kurt Adams, President and CEO of Summit Utilities, Inc. “Mainers are resilient and resourceful. We can develop an energy system that is cost-effective, reliable, and clean but not if we ignore, or worse, ban, powerful tools to help get us there. Please oppose LD2077.”

According to a recent survey by the Maine Energy Marketers Association (MEMA), 87% of Maine voters believe in the importance of allowing individuals to choose how they heat their homes and businesses. The survey also highlights that more than half of Maine voters prefer natural gas and consider it crucial for meeting the energy needs of the average residential customer. These findings underscore the community's strong commitment to preserving energy choices and autonomy.

If the legislation is enacted, it would eliminate a preferred fuel choice for the majority of Mainers and restrict gas expansion into new communities. These restrictions could hinder emission reduction goals, impede economic growth, and limit residents' and businesses' access to reliable and affordable energy options.

What Mainers who oppose LD 2077 say about the bill:

Jenni Tilton-Flood with Flood Brothers Farm said, “At Flood Brothers, we know how important a role Maine’s dairy community and industry plays in the strength of the state’s economy and our culture, which is why we work hard to find new and innovative ways to ensure our animals thrive, our soils are nourished, our workers and communities are cared for, our milk is fresh for our neighbors, and most importantly our operations have an eye toward sustainability and environmental impact. Just as we must look for new ways to increase the sustainability of dairy farming and mitigate environmental impacts, it’s critical the state must also look for ways to reduce the emissions of the energy being supplied while maximizing our resources. The state's gas pipeline system is an important piece of that puzzle.”

Peter DelGreco, President & CEO of Maine & Co. said, “When working with growing and expanding companies, we need to understand the cost structure that companies operate in. Specifically related to manufacturing projects, energy costs are a significant input. When we work with manufacturers on their growth and expansion plans, they ask about ‘access to natural gas.’ Access to natural gas is a key component in the manufacturing sector. Eliminating the development of infrastructure to deliver natural gas will negatively affect Maine’s economy, it’s manufacturing sector, and the people who work those jobs (and the jobs that support that sector).”

Christopher Wasileski, Director of Real Estate Development and part owner of Cumberland Crossing by OceanView said, “Given our business model and partnership with our suppliers (MNG, Summit, DR, etc.) and local vendors; I firmly believe that LD 2077 is bad policy since LD 2077 will make the cost of future gas installations to senior communities like ours cost prohibitive. I also believe that restricting Mainer’s ability to choose the fuel they heat their homes with is not good policy; particularly during a rough winter with hundreds of thousands of power outages as well as flooding and natural disasters (Dec. 2023-present). When the lights and power go out – what will owners of homes with electric baseboard or heat pumps turn to? Most likely LP or Natural Gas generators; diesel fuel or even K1. Furthermore, the most rural Maine communities may want to reduce their energy costs through fuel price competitiveness and access to new energy sources such as Natural Gas pipelines. I do not understand why LD 2077 is targeting a growing industry that can help our state.”

Matt Morrill, Mastway Development CEO said, “It appears that one of the driving forces behind this bill is to push us further into total electrification. I am a proponent of electrification to a certain degree, but total dependence on electric based heat sources is fool hearted. Maine’s drastic swing in temperatures and increase in severe storms has proven to us that we need some form of back up heat to electrical heating. Having natural gas available when the power has gone out has saved our properties from freeze up during the drastic cold snaps where the heat pumps couldn’t keep up or the power was out.”