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Maine governor to sign sweeping renewable energy bills

Maine governor to sign sweeping renewable energy bills

Photo: clipart.com


AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)   Maine’s Democratic governor says she’ll sign three lofty bills aimed at fighting climate change by ushering in renewable energy.

Gov. Janet Mills is set to sign the bills Wednesday in front of Maine’s largest solar array in Pittsfield.

The newly Democratic-led Legislature has passed a pile of bills with Republican support in hopes of reducing emissions and creating clean energy jobs.

That includes a bill to reduce Maine greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.

Lawmakers also passed legislation to increase Maine’s renewable portfolio standard from 40 percent today to 80 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.

Other bills would create new incentives for energy efficient heating and new solar incentive programs.

Maine’s former Republican governor had long fought against solar subsidies.

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