Posted by John Marr

Bob Martin, introduced our speaker, Ms. Kay Mann of the Maine Green Power Program. The continuous clamor declaring global warming as the executioner of plant earth has created sufficient concern that alternative power sources are replacing alternative truths in the mind of many and Ms. Mann is the spokesperson for a source of choice for Maine citizens seeking relief from carbon-fueled sources of power. While most have heard and defer to the “Standard Offer”  with CMP, there are alternatives to consider and the Maine Green Power Program is a source of alternatives to the common carbon-based electric generation sources. 

Ms. Mann pulled back the curtains and introduced us to green sources of power made available to those who disdain the carbon way and want to go green.

The complex web of power generation and delivery was explained and access to alternatives were discussed. For decades the world has been reliant on the standard carbon methods of electric power generation: coal, oil, gas, and other mineral-based heat sources. We have been accustomed to a single choice when it comes to the electricity we use in our homes and businesses, with sourcing never something we had any control over. There are many who think that relying on “green" sources of power is a way to save the planet and would like to have a way to bring clean power into their homes. Kay provided us with a way to go green without having solar panels or windmills on our property.

We can enhance our electric power with healthy options, if we make the choice and are willing to pay more. The average home uses about 530 kilowatts hours of electricity per month which produces about 300 pounds of carbon pollution. If one chooses to avoid the carbon-emitting fuel sources they can do so by making the choice to buy “Recs” from their delivery source that rely on sustainable, non-carbon emitting power sources, such as solar and wind-generated energy. These sources are renewable and are local, clean and readily available. Furthermore, they are an income-generating resource, if developed and enthusiastically embraced by Maine. 

Understanding the power grid is a first step in developing a green energy resources. Our power is delivered through ISO New England, which includes CMP and Bangor Hydro, and they utilize a variety of power sources, including wind and solar. However, they are not going to develop sources that they can’t make money from, which is where the “Recs” come in. If we, as consumers, want green-based electricity we have to pay an additional $8.95 per rec to support the development of the clean grid. One way to better understand the source and its impact is to go modern and get an app for that. 

The favorite energy app of Senator Angus King is “ISO to Go,” which provides information on transmission and the implications of choice. If you want to move away from the Standard Offer for your electricity, you can contact the Maine Green Power Program and they will walk you through the process or you can access CMP or Bangor Hydro and make a voluntary choice to transition to a green power source. Almost as easy as it is to flip a switch and turn on the lights, you can make a switch to a sustainable, local-based, non-polluting power source and do your part in helping to deliver a healthy and beautiful earth to our successors.

For more information, go to: maine.gov/mpuc/greenpower/

(Photo L-R: Bob Martin, Kay Mann and 1st Vice President John Curran.)