Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology

Wind industry sues LePage administration over order halting permits

Portland Press Herald: AUGUSTA — Maine’s wind energy industry is challenging the constitutionality of a recent LePage administration executive order imposing a moratorium on new wind power permits across much of the state.

In a filing in Kennebec County Superior Court, the Maine Renewable Energy Association accuses Gov. Paul LePage of “unconstitutional executive overreach in creating a moratorium of indefinite duration that is contrary to the will of the Legislature.” The association, a trade group representing wind energy companies and contractors, is asking the court to nullify the Jan. 24 executive order that halted the issuance of new wind power permits and created a secretive advisory commission to explore potential changes to the permitting process.

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