Stephen Singer writes about energy and utilities for the Press Herald. He began covering the arcane beat in 1999-2000 as a statehouse reporter for The Associated Press in Charleston, W.Va., as the Legislature -- with many others in the U.S. -- set about the task of deregulating energy. Singer picked up the beat for the AP in Hartford, Conn., expanding his reporting to cover the six New England states. A newcomer to Maine, he prefers blueberries to lobster.
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PublishedNovember 9, 2023
State: Russian gang’s hack in Maine affected personal data of 1.3 million people
A cybersecurity breach 6 months ago may have exposed private information of people contacting state agencies.
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PublishedNovember 8, 2023
After voters reject public power, Maine’s path to utility reform is unclear
One lawmaker is proposing performance-based ratemaking as a possible way to address problems highlighted by the failed campaign to take over Maine’s investor-owned utilities.
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PublishedNovember 7, 2023
Effort to create Maine publicly owned electric utility fails
A proposal to create a publicly owned utility by taking over Maine’s 2 big investor-owned utilities failed by a wide margin in Tuesday voting.
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PublishedNovember 2, 2023
House Republicans rebuff move by Golden to block offshore wind in Gulf of Maine lobster area
Golden tried to amend 2024 appropriations legislation for the Department of Interior to bar wind development in what’s known as Lobster Management Area 1.
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PublishedNovember 1, 2023
Good news: Maine heating prices stable heading into the winter
Oil and propane currently cost less than the record highs in 2022, but world conflicts could affect prices after the first of the year, experts say.
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PublishedOctober 29, 2023
Lewiston mass shootings quiet Maine political campaigns just days before Election Day
Candidates and ballot question activists have fallen silent as the state grapples with the tragedy. With about a week left before Election Day, no one knows if or when politicking will resume.
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PublishedOctober 25, 2023
Auburn and Lewiston mayors have concerns over Question 3 and property taxes
The mayors of nine cities say they fear losing property taxes if Question 3 passes, despite language in the enabling legislation that should prevent that from happening.
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PublishedOctober 24, 2023
Portland company enters deal with Shell to generate renewable energy from Mississippi River currents
ORPC harnesses the power of moving water to provide renewable energy. The project in the Mississippi is expected to bring visibility to the hydrokinetic technology the company pioneered.
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PublishedOctober 22, 2023
Public power question sharpens voters’ concerns about what’s at stake
A proposal to take over the state’s two investor-owned utilities raises worries about reliability, politics, workers’ rights, lawsuits and costs. Some are still in the dark.
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PublishedOctober 20, 2023
$30 million grant to bolster CMP grid a down payment on big projects
The money will be spent installing new devices that allow power to be restored more quickly and often remotely. The limited number of new devices already in service restored power to 74,000 customers in less than five minutes, said CMP.