MEASURE TO DRIVE DOWN ENERGY COSTS STOPPED BY REPUBLICAN MAJORITY

AUGUSTA—In a vote of 15 – 19, Senate Republicans upheld Governor LePage’s veto of LD 1264, “An Act to Improve the Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings and Create Jobs”. The measure, if enacted, would have improved energy efficiency standards in public buildings by providing energy costs and efficiency information and provided a funding mechanism to make any suggested energy savings improvements.

LD 1264, sponsored by Sen. Phil Bartlett, was vetoed by the Governor late last week despite having passed in both bodies of the legislature during the first regular session.

“Today was a missed opportunity. The Legislature and the Governor had an opportunity to address a major concern of Maine people—energy costs,” said Sen. Bartlett of Gorham. “By encouraging energy efficiency, we would have been prudent with taxpayer money by saving on energy costs.”

LD 1264, “An Act to Improve the Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings and Create Jobs” appeared before the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee last spring where they voted in full support of the bill.