An Act To Amend the Maine Wind Energy Act
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1379
Committee Amendment CA_B-SA_B_S341 (Senate)

SENATE 
AMENDMENT "8,, to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT "B" to S. P. 
477, L.D. 1379, Bill, "An Act To Amend the Maine Wind Energy Act" 
Amend the amendment in section 1 by striking out all of that 
part designated 
"§5Z50--O." 
and 
inserting 
in its place 
the 
following: 
'§5Z50-Q. 
Commpnity wind power generators 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter. the 
commissioner may certify the property. equipment and employees 
used primarily as part of a community wind power generator of any 
entity that does not otherwise qualify as a qualified Pine Tree 
Development Zone business or that does not locate in a Pine Tree 
Development Zone as qualified to receive Pine Tree Development 
Zone 
benefits 
if 
the 
commissioner 
determines 
that 
such 
certification would support construction of 
a 
community wind 
power generator in this State by that entity and the entity will 
own title or controlling interest in that generator. 
The entity 
must demonstrate to the commissioner that the construction of the 
generator would not be likely to occur absent the availability of 
the Pine Tree Development Zone benefits. 
For the purposes of 
this 
section. 
"community 
wind 
power 
generator" 
means 
an 
electricity-generating 
facility 
at 
anyone 
site 
with 
instantaneous generating nameplate capacity of not more than 10 
megawatts and that is powered entirely by wind energy. ' 
Further 
amend 
the 
amendment in section 3 
in that part 
designated "§340Z." in the first paragraph in the 15th line (page 
2, line 27 in amendment) by striking out the following: ".lJR" 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT "8,, to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT "B" to S.P. 477, 
L.D. 1379 
Further 
amend 
the 
amendment 
in section 3 
in that part 
designated "§3402." in the first paragraph in the 16th line (page 
2, line: 28 in amendment) by striking out the following: ".lQ.Q." and 
inserting in its place the following: 'at least 300' 
Further 
amend the 
amendment in section 4 
in that part 
designated "§3404." in the first paragraph in the 4th line (page 
2, line 44 in amendment) by striking out the following: "high" 
and inserting in its place the following: 'all state and federal' 
Further amend the amendment in section 6 in the 4th line 
(page 3, line 21 in amendment) by striking out the following: 
"January 13" and inserting in its place the following: 
'March l' 
Further amend the amendment by striking out all of section 7 
(page 3, lines 31 to 34 in amendment) and inserting in its place 
the following: 
'Sec. 7. Public Utilities Commission assistance in financing wind 
energy projects and development of contracts; rulemaking. 
By March 1, 
2006, the Public Utilities Commission shall determine the most 
effective ways for the commission to assist in the financing of 
wind 
energy 
projects 
and 
in 
the 
development 
of 
long-term 
contracts for the generation of electr ici ty by wind power. 
The 
commission shall adopt major substantive rules by March 1, 2006 
to implement and govern long-term contracts for the generation of 
electricity by wind power. ' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment makes 
the following changes 
to Committee 
Amendment "B." 
First, it limits the Commissioner of Economic and 
Community 
Development's 
discretion 
in 
the 
designation 
as 
a 
qualified Pine Tree Development Zone to the property, equipment 
and 
employees dedicated primarily to 
a 
community wind 
power 
generator. 
Under this amendment, no other property, equipment or 
employees of any entity owning or containing a 
communi ty wind 
power generator would be eligible for the benefits of Pine Tree 
Development Zone designation, unless otherwise included in a Pine 
Tree Development Zone. 
Second, it changes the goal of installed 
community wind power generator projects to at least 300 megawatts 
by 
2010. 
Third, 
it 
clarifies 
that 
wind-energy 
related 
development 
must 
be 
consistent 
with 
state 
and 
federal 
environmental standards. 
Fourth, it changes the report date of 
section 6 of Committee Amendment "B" to March 1, 2006. 
Fifth, 
this amendment requires the Public Utilities Commission to seek 
effective ways to assist in developing long-term contracts for 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT ,,/3;. to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT 
"B" to S. P. 477, 
L.D. 1379 
the generation of electricity by community wind power and conduct 
rulemaking to implement any such long-term contracts. 
SPONSORED BY: 
~~~ ~11?1~~~ 
(Senator STRIMLING) 
~ 
COUNTY: 
Cumberland 
FISCAL NOTE REQLlRED 
(See attached) 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/06/05 ~ae 
LD 1379 
LR 1948(08) 
An Act To Amend the Maine Wind Energy Act 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment" "to Committee Amendment" B " 
Sponsor: Sen. Strimling 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential reduced revenue loss - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This amendment reduces the potential situations in which an entity would be eligible for Pine Tree Development Zone 
benefits which may decrease the General Fund revenue loss associated with community wind power generators. 
LR1948(8) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1