MORE THAN HOT AIR

As written, Maine’s requirements for renewable energy appear to be the most ambitious in the country. However, because the state has long generated more than 30 percent of its power from hydroelectric projects, biomass plants and municipal waste to energy facilities, the renewable standard didn’t mean much.

Several times since then, attempts to raise the standard have failed. Last year, Gov. John Baldacci tried to raise the renewable standard to 50 percent, an effort that ran out of gas in the Legislature.

This year, the governor has a more modest approach – to slowly boost the amount of energy produced in Maine from solar arrays, fuel cells, wind installations and other renewable sources. While this year’s bill, LD 1065, may be more palatable to

lawmakers, the more aggressive approach was better.

The legislation, which is the scheduled subject of a public hearing tomorrow before the Utilities and Energy Committee, would retain the 30 percent standard but require that beginning in March 2006 a growing percentage of energy come from new technologies. Next year, 1 percent of electricity would have to come from fuel cells, tidal, solar, geothermal sources, landfill gas and wind installations with 50 percent of that power generated on tribal land. By March 2014, 5 percent of energy generated in Maine must come from these sources.

Another bill, LD 1434, requires a larger percentage of Maine’s power to come from renewable sources, 2 percent by September of this year and 7 percent by 2015. But it includes existing facilities in this requirement so it would not necessarily encourage the building of new alternative energy projects.

Both timetables allow new, alternative energy sources to be generated slowly and cost effectively. But, if the state is serious about promoting solar and other alternative energy sources, it should also set standards for each type of generation it wants to encourage. For example, 1 percent could be required from solar installations alone.

According to Beth Nagusky, director of the state’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, renewable standards in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have led to the building of new wind energy projects and the re-starting of biomass plants. The renewable portfolio standards, if they are left in place, provide the stability that companies need to invest in alternative energy projects.

Maine can do this and ensure a growing supply of clean, renewable energy by enacting aggressive renewable standards.