Source: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/billtexts/SP055001.asp
Timestamp: 2020-08-12 07:01:08
Document Index: 668269131

Matched Legal Cases: ['§577', '§3210', '§1', '§574', '§1', '§ 577']

SP0550, LD 1679, item 1, An Act To Establish the Maine Climate Change Council To Assist Maine To Mitigate, Prepare for and Adapt to Climate Change
Environment: Natural Resources Maine Climate Change Council and Working Groups Legislative Per Diem and Expenses for Legislators/Expenses Only for Other Members 38 MRSA §577-A
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§§1-A and 1-B are enacted to read:
1-A. Percentage from renewable resources; 2030. By January 1, 2030, 80% of electricity consumed in the State must come from renewable resources.
1-B. Percentage from renewable resources; 2050. By January 1, 2050, 100% of electricity consumed in the State must come from renewable resources.
The commission shall ensure that any long-term contract authorized under this subsection is consistent with the State's goals for greenhouse gas reduction under Title 38, section 576 576-A and the regional greenhouse gas initiative as described in the state climate action plan required in Title 38, section 577.
(6) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the heating and cooling of buildings in the State by amounts consistent with the State's goals established in Title 38, section 576 576-A.
Sec. 6. 38 MRSA §574, sub-§§1-A to 1-C are enacted to read:
1-A. Climate action plan. "Climate action plan" means the state plan adopted under this chapter.
1. Interim emissions levels. By January 1, 2030, the State shall reduce gross annual greenhouse gas emissions to at least 45% below the 1990 gross annual greenhouse gas emissions level.
2. 2050 annual emissions level. By January 1, 2050, the State shall reduce gross annual greenhouse gas emissions to at least 80% below the 1990 gross annual greenhouse gas emissions level.
3. Monitoring and reporting rules. By July 1, 2021, the department shall adopt rules to track and report to the Legislature on gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions. As recommended by the Maine Climate Change Council, as established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 24-G, or as determined necessary by the commissioner, the department shall adopt rules to ensure compliance with the levels established by and pursuant to subsections 1 and 2. These rules may establish a mechanism for crediting voluntary measures that quantifiably and reliably sequester additional carbon in forests, farms and coastal lands in the State or by the use of materials that sequester additional carbon. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
1. Update plan. By December 1, 2020, and every 4 years thereafter, the Maine Climate Change Council, as established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 24-G and referred to in this section as "the council," with input from stakeholders, shall update the state climate action plan under this section and shall include in the plan strategies to meet the reduction levels specified in section 576-A.
2. Evaluation of strategies. In updating the climate action plan, the council shall evaluate strategies to reduce gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the reduction levels in section 576-A. The council shall quantitatively analyze and report on the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of each strategy. To fund the analysis and work of the council, the council may solicit and receive financial support from the public and from private and nonprofit organizations.
3. Mitigation strategies. The updated climate action plan must address climate change mitigation strategies. The council shall update mitigation strategies for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases in the State, including updating the strategies for greenhouse gas mitigation included in the plan and identifying new strategies by applying the latest scientific and technological information available related to climate change.
4. Adaptation and resilience strategies. The updated climate action plan must address the impacts of climate change upon the State and provide strategies and actions for climate adaptation and resiliency. These strategies must include implementation guidelines that:
A. Prioritize the welfare of the State's citizens and visitors and recognize and foster the value of the State's natural resources;
5. Effects of climate change. The updated climate action plan must provide the latest information on climate change effects in the State as well as the sectors, ecosystems and communities most at risk.
6. Submission of plan. The council shall submit the climate action plan and any recommended legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters. Upon receipt and review of the plan, the joint standing committee may report out a bill to the Legislature.
7. Objectives. In identifying the preferred strategies to include in the updated climate action plan, the council shall give consideration to the following objectives:
B. Pursuing actions that minimize deleterious effects, including those on low-income and moderate-income persons, to public health and the environment and that support economic sectors that face the biggest barriers to emissions reductions and creating, when feasible, additional employment and economic growth in the State;
C. Ensuring equity for all sectors and regions of the State and that the broadest group of residents benefit from the achievement of the levels in section 576-A and the long-term goal in section 576-A, subsection 2, with consideration of economic, quality-of-life and public health benefits;
8. Use of existing data. In updating the climate action plan, the council shall draw upon existing state data and studies, including, but not limited to, analyses and data from the 2004 climate action plan and the 2010 adaptation plan developed by the department and the evaluations of the State's progress toward meeting greenhouse gas emissions levels under section 578, the comprehensive state energy plan pursuant to Title 2, section 9, subsection 3, paragraph C and the Efficiency Maine Trust's triennial plan pursuant to Title 35-A, section 10104, subsection 4.
9. Funding. The council may solicit and receive financial support, including funding from government agencies and private and nonprofit organizations and foundations.
§ 577-A. Maine Climate Change Council
The Maine Climate Change Council, referred to in this section as "the council," is created to advise the Governor and Legislature on ways to mitigate the causes of, prepare for and adapt to the consequences of climate change.
1. Membership. The council's membership consists of the following members:
B. Two members of the House, appointed by the Speaker of the House, including one member of each of the 2 parties holding the most seats in the House;
I. The Commissioner of Marine Resources, or the commissioner's designee;
J. The Commissioner of Transportation, or the commissioner's designee;
K. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, or the commissioner's designee;
L. The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;
M. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, or the commissioner's designee;
N. The Director of the Governor's Energy Office, or the director's designee;
O. The director of the Efficiency Maine Trust, or the director's designee;
P. The director of the Maine State Housing Authority, or the director's designee; and
Q. Other members appointed by the Governor representing state interests affected by climate change or with expertise in climate change issues, including:
(5) One member to represent expertise in Maine's energy sector;
(6) One member to represent Maine's tribes;
(11) Two members to represent environmental nonprofit organizations or private foundations, or both, with a focus on environmental issues;
(13) Two members with expertise in resilience, climate change adaptation, emergency management or disaster risk reduction;
(14) One member to represent Maine's youth; and
(15) Up to 2 other government or public members.
2. Terms. The term of a member appointed pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph Q is 2 years. At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed.
3. Chair. The Governor shall appoint 2 cochairs from among the members serving pursuant to subsection 1, paragraphs C to M.
4. Removal. The Governor may remove an appointed member for incompetence, misconduct or failure to perform the duties of the position.
5. Steering committee. The council shall establish a steering committee composed of a subset of the council, including, but not limited to, the cochairs and working group chairs.
6. Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, referred to in this subsection as "the subcommittee," is established to identify, monitor, study and report out relevant data related to climate change in the State and its effects on the State's climate, species, marine and coastal environments and natural landscape and on the oceans and other bodies of water.
The members of the subcommittee must include at least one member of the Senate and one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the presiding officer of the respective chamber of the Legislature and the legislative members must include members of both of the 2 political parties holding the most seats in the Legislature. The cochairs of the council shall appoint as members representatives of scientific and academic institutions, affected and involved businesses and industries, nonprofit organizations and foundations and federal, state and local governments and agencies.
A. Shall meet at least every 6 months beginning no later than October 1, 2019 and establish an annual work plan;
D. Shall review the direct and indirect effects of climate change, including, but not limited to, air temperature changes, sea level rise, ocean and coastal acidification, warming ocean temperatures, increased precipitation and changes in salinity and dissolved oxygen concentrations;
G. Shall identify and monitor the factors contributing to the effects of climate change, including, but not limited to, the effects caused by coastal and ocean acidification, rising ocean temperatures and changes in salinity and dissolved oxygen concentrations;
H. Shall identify methods and protocols to mitigate direct and indirect effects of climate change on the State's species;
I. Shall establish science-based sea level rise projections for the State's coastal areas by December 1, 2020 and update them at least every 4 years;
J. Shall create maps that indicate the areas of the State that may be most affected by storm surges, ocean and river flooding and extreme weather events and make these maps publicly available on a website maintained by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Geological Survey; and
K. Shall analyze and identify options for quantifying carbon sequestration and emissions associated with biomass growth, management and utilization in upland and marine environments.
7. Working groups. The council shall establish the following working groups:
D. A working lands and ecosystems working group;
F. Other working groups as needed.
Each working group must include at least one member of the Senate and one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the presiding officer of the respective chamber of the Legislature and the legislative members must include members of both of the 2 political parties holding the most seats in the Legislature. The cochairs of the council shall appoint as members representatives of scientific and academic institutions, affected and involved businesses and industries, nonprofit organizations and foundations and federal, state and local governments and agencies.
Each working group shall meet at least every 6 months, beginning no later than October 1, 2019 and shall establish an annual work plan.
8. Consideration of subcommittee and working group actions by council. The council shall consider and prioritize actions of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee established in subsection 6 and the working groups established in subsection 7, including:
A. Developing the State's climate action plan in accordance with section 577;
B. Developing recommendations for legislation;
C. Soliciting input from members of the public when developing the State's climate action plan and communicating with the public on progress and actions;
D. Developing broad public and private partnerships with local, state and federal agencies;
E. Addressing any disproportionate impacts of climate change on low-income and vulnerable communities;
M. Developing and supporting new and existing programs, codes and incentives that encourage increased energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions from the State's public and private buildings and businesses;
P. Establishing comprehensive and accountable annual working group work plans that set annual goals and performance benchmarks and prioritize new and existing climate change mitigation, preparedness actions and initiatives and report these out to stakeholders and the public;
Q. Convening regular steering committee, working group and full council meetings to ensure that sufficient progress is being made across all sectors and communities in the State; and
R. Considering other related matters as the council determines to be necessary.
9. Funds. The council and the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee established in subsection 6 and its working groups established in subsection 7 may solicit and receive financial support, including funding from government agencies, nonprofit organizations and foundations and other entities, to fulfill their responsibilities under this section.
By January 1, 2006 and by that date every 2 years thereafter, the The Maine Climate Change Council, established under section 577-A, or the department , shall evaluate the State's progress toward meeting the reduction goals specified in section 576, review the cost-effectiveness of the actions taken toward meeting the reduction goals and shall amend the action plan as necessary to ensure that the State can meet the reduction goals 576-A and progress toward implementing the climate action plan in section 577. The department shall submit a report of its evaluation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters by January 1, 2016 December 1, 2022 and by that date every 2 years thereafter. The council, or the department, may recommend other metrics to share the progress on climate mitigation and adaptation strategies with the Legislature and public. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters is authorized to report out legislation relating to the evaluation to the second regular session of any Legislature. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may make recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters regarding that legislation. Starting no earlier than January 1, 2008, the department may recommend to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters that the reduction goals specified in section 576 be increased or decreased.
Sec. 12. Meetings of Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 577-A, subsection 6, paragraph A, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Maine Climate Change Council shall meet at least 4 times before July 1, 2020.