An Act To Provide Leadership in Addressing the Threat of Climate Change
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0845
Committee: Natural Resources
Sponsors: KOFFMAN, TREAT, BULL, COWGER, DUNLAP, PINGREE, DAMON, EDMONDS, SAWYER

Legislative Document 
No. 845 
H.P.622 
House of Representatives, February 20,2003 
An Act To Provide Leadership in Addressing the Threat of Climate 
Change 
Reference to the Committee on Natural Resources suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative KOFFMAN of Bar Harbor. 
Cosponsored by Senator TREAT of Kennebec and 
17/~/h.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BULL of Freeport, COWGER of Hallowell, DUNLAP of Old Town, 
McLAUGHLIN of Cape Elizabeth, PINGREE of North Haven, Senators: DAMON of 
Hancock, EDMONDS of Cumberland, SAWYER of Penobscot. 
Prinled on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec.t. 38 MRS A Co 3-A is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 3-A 
CLIMATE CHANGE 
§574. 
Definitions 
As 
used 
in this 
chapter, 
unless 
the 
context 
otherwise 
indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. 
1. 
Greenhouse gas. 
"Greenhouse gas" means any chemical or 
physical substance that is emitted into the air and that the 
department determines by rule may reasonably be anticipated to 
cause 
or 
contribute 
to 
global 
warming. 
"Greenhouse 
gas" 
includes, but is not limited to, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous 
oxide, 
hydrofluorocarbons, 
perfluorocarbons 
and 
sulfur 
hexafluoride. 
2. 
Source. 
"Source" 
means 
any 
building, 
structure, 
facility, installation or other thing that emits or may emit a 
greenhouse gas. 
§575. 
Hew sources of greenhouse gas 
A developer of any major development project that requires a 
permit from the department and that produces 
a 
new source of 
greenhouse gas shall submit a report identifying the source to 
the department. 
The 
department, 
by rule, 
shall identify the 
types of development projects that require a report pursuant to 
this section. 
§576. 
Lead-kY-example initiative 
The department shall establish a lead-by-example ini tiati ve 
under which the department shall: 
1-
Grgenhouse gas emissions inventorI:_ 
Cr~ate an inventory 
of 
greenhouse 
gas 
emissions 
associated 
with 
state-owned 
fQ~ilities and 
state-funded 
programs 
and 
create 
a 
plan 
for 
reducing those emissions to below 1990 levels by 2010, and 
2. 
Carbon emission reduction_ 
By 2006, enter into carbon 
emission 
reduction 
agreements 
with 
at 
least 
nonprofit 
organizations and businesses. 
§577. 
Long-term climate action plan 
By 2006, the department shall develop a long-term climate 
action plan for the State that provides for a method for reducing 
greenhouse gas emissions: 
1. 
Reduction by 2010. 
To 1990 levels by 2010; 
2. 
Reduction by 2020. 
By at least 10% below 1990 levels by 
2020; and 
3. 
Long term reduction. 
Ultimately, to a level that is 75°" 
to 80% below 2003 levels. 
The plan must establish a date by 
which this reduction should be met. 
§518. 
Rules 
The department shall adopt rules to implement this chapter. 
Rules 
adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires new sources of greenhouse gases to be 
reported to the Department of Environmental Protection. 
It also 
requires the department to create an inventory of greenhouse gas 
emissions associated with state-owned facilities and state-funded 
programs and to create a plan for reducing those emissions. 
The 
bill also requires the department to enter into carbon emission 
reduction 
agreements 
with 
nonprofit 
organizations 
and 
businesses. 
Finally, the bill requires the department to develop 
a long-term climate action plan for the State.