An Act To Strengthen the Energy Resources Council
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0669
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: HALL
Amends: 5 MRSA §3327, 35-A MRSA §3211-A

Legislative Document 
No. 669 
S.P.233 
In Senate, February 14,2003 
An Act To Strengthen the Energy Resources Council 
Reference to the Committee on Utilities and Energy suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator HALL of Lincoln . 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §3327. sub-§3. as enacted by PL 2001, c. 630, 
§1, is amended to read: 
3. 
Quarterly meetings; staff. 
The council shall meet at 
least quarterly. 
The council shall prepare a work program for 
each year establishing priorities among its efforts. 
The State 
Planning Office, within the Executive Department, shall provide 
staff 
support 
funded 
from 
the 
conservation 
program 
fund 
established pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3211-A. 
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Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 
624, §4, is amended to read: 
5. 
Conservation 
program 
fund. 
The 
commission 
shall 
establish a 
conservation program fund to 
be 
used solely for 
conservation programs and to provide, as needed, up to $200,000 
per 
fiscal 
year 
to 
support 
the 
Energy 
Resources 
Council 
established under Title 5, section 3327. 
A. 
The commission shall deposit all assessments collected 
pursuant to this section, other than funds deposited in the 
administration fund, into the program fund. 
B. 
Any interest earned on funds in the program fund must be 
credited to the program fund. 
C. 
Funds not spent in any fiscal year remain ~n the program 
fund to be used for conservation programs. 
D. 
The commission may apply for and receive grants from 
state, 
federal 
and 
private 
sources 
for 
deposit 
in 
the 
program fund and also may deposit in the program fund any 
grants or other funds received by or from any entity with 
which the commission has an agreement or contract pursuant 
to this section if the commission determines that receipt of 
those funds would be consistent with the purposes of this 
section. 
If the commission receives any funds pursuant to 
this paragraph, it shall establish a separate account within 
the program fund to receive the funds and shall keep those 
funds and any interest earned on those funds segregated from 
other funds in the program fund. 
Sec. 3. Comprehensive energy review and report. 
In addition to 
its 
other 
responsibilities, 
the 
Energy 
Resources 
Council 
established 
• 
• 
• 
• 
.. 
'. 
• 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 3327 shall 
undertake 
a 
comprehensive 
review 
of 
state 
energy 
and 
energy-related policy for fiscal year 2003-04 and prepare and 
submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy no later than December 
1, 
2003. 
In developing its recommendations the council shall 
seek 
to 
exploit 
the 
links 
between 
energy 
policy 
and 
environmental, 
transportation and economic development policy. 
As it finds appropriate, the council shall invite comments from 
legislative 
committees 
of 
jurisdiction, 
stakeholders 
and 
the 
public. 
The council shall hold at least 2 public hearings on 
draft findings and recommendations prior to preparing its final 
draft. 
Sec. 
4. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
The 
following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
EXECUTIVE DEPAR'l'MENT 
State Planning Office 
Initiative: 
Allocates funds from the conservation program fund 
established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, 
section 32ll-A, subsection 5 for a full-time Policy Development 
Specialist position to provide staffing for the Energy Resources 
Council. 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Positions - Legislative Count 
Positions -
FTE Count 
Personal Services 
All Other 
Other Special Revenue Funds Total 
SUMMARY 
2003-04 
(1.000) 
(0.000) 
$52,560 
3,750 
$56,310 
2004-05 
(1.000) 
(0.000) 
$68,751 
5,000 
$73,751 
This bill requires the Energy Resources Council to undertake 
a comprehensive review of state energy and energy-related policy 
and 
prepare 
and 
submit 
a 
report 
of 
its 
findings 
and 
recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and 
Energy by December 1, 2003. 
The bill also provides funding from 
the conservation program fund established pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, 
section 32ll-A, subsection 5 to 
provide staff for the council.