Maine AFL-CIO endorses state ‘Green New Deal’ bill
Photo / Tim Greenway
The Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a bill that calls for a "Green New Deal" in Maine. Among its provisions is a measure requiring Maine Public Utilities Commission and Efficiency Maine Trust to submit a report by Jan. 1, 2020, that includes draft legislation to establish a virtual net metering program to encourage installation of solar photovoltaic energy systems on public school buildings.
A bill that seeks to establish a “Green New Deal for Maine” has been endorsed by the Maine AFL-CIO, a statewide federation of 160 local unions representing 40,000 workers.
Sponsored by Rep. Chloe Maxmin, D-Nobleboro, LD 1282 faces a public hearing by the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee on Tuesday, 1 p.m., in Room 211 of the Cross Building.
According to its summary, the bill takes a four-pronged approach:
Part A requires competitive electricity providers to demonstrate, by 2040, that 80% of the sources for retail electricity sales in Maine are 80% from renewable resources. It also amends the state's goals for long-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Part B creates the Task Force for a Green New Deal, which consists of 11 members, including representatives of state government, climate science, renewable energy, youth, labor and business. The task force is charged with creating a plan to advance environmental sustainability, renewable energy and economic growth for the state. The plan would be required to include:
- A renewable resources strategy to achieve 80% reliance on renewable resources for electricity supply by 2040.
- A job training strategy, including a training program to prepare workers for green jobs.
- A residential energy strategy that provides incentives for installation of solar energy systems and heat pumps.
The task force would be required to submit a report on its plan by Jan. 15, 2020, to Gov. Janet Mills; the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business; the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology; and the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
Part C requires the Public Utilities Commission and the Efficiency Maine Trust to submit a report by Jan. 1, 2020 that includes draft legislation to establish a virtual net metering program to encourage installation of solar photovoltaic energy systems on public school buildings.
Part D creates a 13-member Commission on a Just Transition To a Low-carbon Economy, whose responsibility would be to ensure that Maine’s transition to a low-carbon economy benefits all residents fairly and equitably. The commission would be required to submit an annual report to the Legislature.
Maine AFL-CIO’s perspective
In a news release announcing its endorsement of the bill, the Maine AFL-CIO highlighted a provision in the bill that would require increased use of registered apprenticeships, as a percentage of the total workforce, on new projects that generate electricity.
“We face twin crises of skyrocketing inequality and increasing climate instability,” said Matt Schlobohm, executive director of the Maine AFL-CIO. “Climate change and inequality pose dire threats to working people, to all that we love about Maine and to our democracy. The work of moving towards a renewable economy must be rooted in workers’ rights and economic and social justice. To ensure that a transition to a renewable energy economy is equitable and just, we need to rewrite the rules of the economy to tackle the climate crisis and raise wages, guarantee workers’ freedom to organize and build an economy that works for all, not just those at the top.”
Maine AFL-CIO noted that the bill has the potential to create “thousands of high-quality jobs” in Maine by encouraging:
- Major investments in upgrading, rebuilding and developing the state's infrastructure.
- Maintenance and expansion of existing manufacturing and industrial facilities, including paper mills.
- A comprehensive approach to developing registered apprenticeship and training programs in rural and urban communities of the state for jobs that contribute to preserving, sustaining or enhancing environmental quality, commonly referred to as green jobs.
- Ensuring workers have a voice in these jobs through collective bargaining rights.
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What we will see is subsidization (ie: heat pump installation) that will be facilitated by a state agency program and funded by some increase in some kind of tax; likely high earners will be targeted again, taxes at the pump, etc. The public school solar panels will be something to watch. Another unfunded mandate, perhaps? Agree, climate change is real (we can all debate cause) but unless the PUBLIC is willing to make real life-style changes (stop flying, stop ordering from Amazon to discourage fossil-fuel based trucking and cardboard production)) we are going to end up with more government imposed over site and many who simply can't or will not comply.
OMG, anyone who thinks this is a good idea won't mind paying ridiculous prices for their electricity! We are not at a point where renewable energy is efficient and cost effective. This sounds great in an outline, but wake up people. We will be paying crazy prices for electricity and we will be forced to install very expensive solar panels on our houses whether we want them or not and whether we can afford them or not. What country is this?
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