Photo: Justin Henry via Creative Commons 2.0
January 29, 2024 (PORTLAND, ME) – Maine’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved Northern Utilities’ contracts committing the utility to bringing fossil gas into Maine for another 30 years. Despite this disappointing decision, the PUC also indicated that it would require a greenhouse gas emissions analysis in future cases and launch an inquiry to look at how gas use must align with Maine’s climate mandates going forward. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response.
“The fact that the PUC will begin considering the climate impacts of polluting fossil gas is a definite step in the right direction,” said CLF Senior Attorney Emily Green. “But committing to three more decades of gas flies in the face of Maine’s binding climate targets at a time when we’re already seeing extreme weather connected to the climate crisis. Our leaders and agencies must do more than talk the talk and CLF will ensure that they walk the walk regarding our mandated emissions targets.”
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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