Resolve, Directing the Public Utilities Commission To Amend its Rules To Increase the Amount of Energy Conservation Funds for School Administrative Units
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1666
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: PINGREE, MITCHELL, CAIN, CUMMINGS, FLOOD, KOFFMAN, BARTLETT, DOW, MILLS

Legislative Document 
No. 1666 
H.P.1175 
House of Representatives, March 22, 2007 
Resolve, Directing the Public Utilities Commission To Amend its 
Rules To Increase the Amount of Energy Conservation Funds for 
School Administrative Units 
Reference to the Committee on Utilities and Energy suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative PINGREE of North Haven. 
Cosponsored by Senator MITCHELL of Kennebec and 
'7J1~ 117· 7JltU~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CAIN of Orono, Speaker CUMMINGS of Portland, FLOOD of Winthrop, 
KOFFMAN of Bar Harbor, MacDONALD of Boothbay, Senators: BARTLETT of 
Cumberland, DOW of Lincoln, MILLS of Somerset. 
Pnllled on rel.:YI.:1ed ru~r 
Sec. 1. Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules to increase the 
amount of energy conservation funds for school administrative units. 
Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shal1 amend Chapter 380 of its rules to 
increase the amount of energy conservation funds for school administrative units of up to 
$100,000 for one unit per year or $200,000 over 2 years for cost-effective energy efficient 
projects. 
The Public Utilities Commission's Efficiency Maine program shal1 use the 
funds in this section to include renovation and energy-efficient retrofitting and may not 
diminish current funding for the Maine High Performing Schools program. Funds in this 
section may be used for an energy audit for a current school facility if the school commits 
to implementing at least 50% of the recommendations of the audit within one year; and 
II 
be it further 
Sec. 2. 
State Board of Education to collaborate with Public Utilities 
Commission. Resolved: That the State Board of Education shal1 col1aborate with the 
Public Utilities Commission to develop energy building standards for state-funded new 
school construction and renovations to existing school facilities in the Department of 
Education rules, Chapter 61 within one year. The rules must al10w the State Board of 
Education to exercise its judgment in selecting energy efficiency standards best suited for 
the State by considering existing standards or new standards for new construction but 
must mandate the range of future standards that may be required. The State Board of 
Education shal1 also consider implementing a low-interest loan program within current 
renovation loan and grant funds for energy efficiency retrofitting of school facilities; and 
be it further 
Sec. 3. School administrative units to report yearly energy consumption 
data. Resolved: That every school administrative unit shall report yearly the energy 
consumption data for each school facility within the unit's jurisdiction to the Department 
of Education. The Department of Education shal1 share the data required to be reported 
under this section with the Public Utilities Commission and the Governor's Energy Office 
for the purposes of tracking the energy consumption of the State's school facilities and to 
quantify taxpayer and carbon dioxide savings associated with significant energy 
efficiency programs. 
Starting in 2009, the Department of Education and the Public 
Utilities Commission shall set a goal to reduce overall public school energy consumption 
by 10% by 2010, 20% by 2012 and 30% by 2014. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve: 
1. 
Directs the Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules to provide school 
districts with additional funds under the Public Utilities Commission's Maine High 
Performing Schools program for cost-effective energy efficiency projects; 
2. 
Directs the State Board of Education to col1aborate with the Public Utilities 
Commission to enact new energy efficiency standards for new construction and 
renovations of existing school facilities and allows the State Board of Education to use 
I 
current renovation loan and grant funds for energy efficiency retrofitting of school 
facilities; and 
3. Requires school administrative units to yearly report energy consumption data to 
the Department of Education so that the department, the Public Utilities Commission and 
the Governor's Energy Office may quantify taxpayer and carbon dioxide savings from 
energy efficiency programs and directs the Department of Education and Public Utilities 
Commission to set the goal of 30% reduction in overall public school energy 
consumption by the year 2014.