International Conglomerate Iberdrola and Subsidiary Central Maine Power Hijack Well-Intentioned Solar Legislation to Kill Solar Industry Competition

AUGUSTA, Maine, June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Barry Goldwater Jr.'s conservative solar organization Tell Utilities Solar won't be Killed (TUSK) launched in Maine this week in response to the electric utilities' legislative sneak attack on solar choice and competition. International conglomerate Iberdrola and its subsidiary Central Maine Power are exerting monopolist attempts to stifle competition and tax rooftop solar out of existence in light of growing competition.

Initially, LD 1263 expanded net metering. Net metering is the cornerstone policy to a successful solar market and economic development in 44 states. As amended, LD 1263 now undermines net metering and leads to new taxes penalizing consumers for generating their own electricity. Instead of facilitating the growth of a competitive market, Iberdrola and Central Maine Power have hijacked the bill to create instability for private companies, threatening homegrown businesses and paving the way to commandeer the market.

Utilities have launched similar campaigns across the country to eliminate rooftop solar. However, Maine is the first to face attempts to tax the sun from an overseas utility conglomerate, Iberdrola.

"The utilities want to force hidden taxation that penalizes consumers who invest private capital in putting solar on their own roofs," said TUSK Chairman Barry Goldwater Jr. "That's anti-competitive, and it's also anti-conservative."

The bill language compels Maine to deploy big government resources to consider Iberdrola's European style buy-all, sell-all restrictions on consumers. This utility attempt to prevent solar customers from using the energy they produce on-site forces customers to sell all of their local solar energy back to the utility, and then get taxed on the sale.

TUSK urges Maine voters to stand strong for choice, competition, and property rights in the energy market. Don't be fooled by this latest monopoly utility attempt to corrupt free market policy.

About Tell Utilities Solar won't be Killed

TUSK was formed to create a united front through which the public can tell utilities that solar is right for conservatives and right for America. http://dontkillsolar.com/

Contact: Mike Scerbo, 602-615-6523

SOURCE Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed (TUSK)

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