To: Members of the Joint Committee on Energy Utilities and Technology
From: Becky Bartovics, Sierra Club Maine
Date: February 28, 2023
Re: Testimony in Opposition to L.D. 43: Act An Act to Create Equal Opportunity Access to Clean Energy by Removing the 100-megawatt Limit on Clean Energy Sources; and in opposition of the identical L.D. 622: An Act to Create Equal Opportunity Access to Clean Energy by Removing the 100-megawatt Limit on Clean Energy Sources
Senator Lawrence, Representative Ziegler and Members of the Joint Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology,
I am submitting the following testimony on behalf of Sierra Club Maine, representing over 22,000 supporters and members statewide. We work diligently to amplify the power of our 3.8 million members nation-wide as we work towards combating climate change and promoting a just and sustainable economy. We urge you to vote “ought not to pass” on L.D. 43 and the identical L.D. 622.
Sierra Club Maine strongly supports moving towards an all electric economy while doing so in a responsible manner as relates to the protection of all. Hydroelectric dams are increasingly recognized as significant emitters of methane, an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Hydropower dams disrupt flow of water, fish spawning and increase temperature of the water. Impounded water behind dams are increasingly understood to provide algal blooms and methane release previously misunderstood and known as major pollutants. All of these issues result in economic hardships for local residents, damage to the riverine ecosystem above and downstream, as well as an increase in emissions of potent greenhouse gasses, CO2 and methane. This is going in the wrong direction for Maine. Included below is a presentation about dams by Friends of Sebago Lake.
We urge you to remove Hydroelectric generators from the allowed list of generators in both L.D. 43 and L.D. 622. We also caution that increasing sizes of all allowed renewable generating capacities will not promote locally scaled micro grids and energy efficiency, which in turn promote local economic growth. Instead, development of these facilities in Maine will favor out of state entities whose bottom line is shareholder value, not ratepayer satisfaction or lower costs. While we are determined to address impacts that are hurting residents of Maine, we urge this committee to proceed carefully and not to increase hydroelectric capacity beyond present limits.
With great appreciation,
Becky Layton Bartovics- Sierra Club Volunteer Leadership