An Act To Protect the Right To Use Solar Energy
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0073
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: HINCK, AUSTIN, PIOTTI, PLUMMER, WAGNER, WEBSTER, ALFOND, GOODALL, NUTTING

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124th MAl E LEGISLATURE 
FIRST REGULAR SESSIOr-~-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 73 
H.P.62 
House of Representatives, January 7, 2009 
An Act To Protect the Right To Use Solar Energy 
Reference to the Committee on Utilities and Energy suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative HINCK of Portland. 
71dJ~ 1/1, 1J?tU;f~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, PIOTTI of Unity, PLUMMER of 
Windham, WAGNER of Lyman, WEBSTER of Freeport, Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, 
GOODALL of Sagadahoc, NUTTING of Androscoggin. 
PIIIltt:J on n:t.:ycIt:J pap!!!' 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 35-A MRS A §10009 is enacted to read: 
§10009. Use of solar collectors and equipment for solar drying of clothing 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a public or private entity, as appropriate, 
may not adopt or enforce any law, ordinance, bylaw, rule, deed restriction, covenant, 
declaration, contract or other binding agreement or regulatory measure that prohibits or 
has the effect of prohibiting a person from installing or using solar collectors or clothes 
lines or other equipment for the solar dlying of clothing. 
When necessary to protect access to buildings, to protect historic or aesthetic values 
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011' t01 eTilsuli~ Ila;wiel evacuation of buildings in case of fire or other emergency, a public or 
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ptiv.ate: enti:t)i ma.y use' its; p,Ow.elis: Oli uiigllts t01 l,i,Jjni.t. the installation and use of solar 
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C0"I!l.~c::.1!0Es; Oli elotlies; J!ines, Oli other equi]>l1Ille.nt fOli the solar dluying of clothing by a person 
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iif tile: eB.!l1~ty pFtwhd'es; the person wi'~11' a1'teJ:nati;v.es: tbat do not vmpair the effective 
installati'oTF and ~1!Se: o,ff tIDe: so1iaili' eo,H:eetoL's: OJ: ctothes Hues Of other equipment for the solar' 
drying of clothing. 
Any prOVISIOn within a law, ordinance, bylaw, rule, deed restriction, covenant, 
declaration, contract or other binding agreement or regulatory measure in existence on the 
effective date of this section that conflicts with this section is void as of the effective date 
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ofthis section. 
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In any litigation arising under the provisions of this section, the prevailing party is 
entitled to costs and reasonable attorney's fees. 
SUMMARY 
This bill prohibits restri:C:1Wo,1iJJ by law> ordinance, regulation, deed, covenant or 
contract on the installation and use of soJiar collectors, clothes lines and other eqjl!l'ipment 
for the solar drying of clothing. 
Page I - 124LR0310(Ol)-1 
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