An Act To Ensure That Maine's Energy Corridor Policy Does Not Harm Maine's Renewable Power Development
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1571
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: MARTIN, JACKSON, CAREY, FITTS, THIBODEAU, NUTTING

Legislative Document 
No. 1571 
H.P.1108 
House of Representatives, December 21, 2009 
An Act To Ensure That Maine's Energy Corridor Policy Does Not 
Harm Maine's Renewable Power Development 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majOlity of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the H()use on December 17,2009. Referred to the Committee on 
Utilities and Energy pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401. 
Presented by Representative MARTIN of Eagle Lake. 
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives; CAIN of Orono, CAREY of Lewiston, FITTS of Pittsfield, MacDONALD of 
Boothbay, THIBODEAU of Winterport, Senator: NUTTING of Androscoggin. 
PrintCUl1l1 rC:L:ydcu p:1rcr 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective unti190 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Legislature has previously recognized the importance of developing 
renewable energy generation within the State with regard to achieving energy security, 
price stability, environmental goals and economic development; and 
Whereas, the State is currently developing a policy on the designation, development 
and use of energy corridors; and 
Whereas, an appropriate balance must be maintained between the State's energy 
corridor policy and the State's renewable power development; and 
Whereas, this legislation extends the reporting deadline of the Commission to Study 
Energy Infrastructure; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency with in 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. F, §4, sub-§4is amended to read: 
4. Duties; corridors; plan. The commission shall examine the feasibility and effects 
of the State entering into agreements for leasing or otherwise allowing the use of state-
owned lands or assets, including submerged lands, the rights-of-way of the state highway 
system, the federal interstate highway system, state-owned or state-controlled rail 
corridors or other state transportation corridors, for the installation of lines, cables, 
pipelines or other structures for the transmission of energy resources, communication 
transmission systems or related facilities. 
The commission shall develop a plan 
governing such agreements that addresses at least the following: 
A. Appropriate valuation, pricing and allocation methodologies to maximize the 
long-term public value through the most efficient and effective use of the state-owned 
lands and assets; and 
B. The potential effect of such agreements on renewable energy development in the 
State, on the development of other energy projects in the State, including but not 
limited to liquefied natural gas terminals, on energy consumers and ratepayers and on 
natural resources and the environment. 
The commission shall make specific findings regarding the renewable and other energy 
project development potential in this State before final adoption of the plan. 
In 
developing the plan, the commission shall consider and give preference to energy project 
development in this State. 
The commission shall also examine the policy issues relating to the construction or 
installation in this State of energy facilities greater than 75 miles in length. 
The 
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commISSIOn shall evaluate the need for changes in methods of taxation to ensure 
protection of the public health, safety and welfare. 
. 
In developing the plan, the commission shall review and analyze relevant reports and 
information, including but not limited to the information, analysis and results of the New 
England States Regional Energy Blueprint being prepared by ISO-NE for the New 
England Governors and the New England States' Committee on Electricity. 
The 
commission shall also make findings of fact based on economic models developed by the 
Executive Department, State Planning Office to assess employment, taxation and other 
economic effects of power production in this State and the development of different types 
of corridors in this State. The commission shall also examine and monitor proposed or 
pending federal energy legislation that may significantly affect energy policy in this 
State. The commission may also consider ways in which the State's electric transmission 
systems, including new lines, system upgrades or the development of a smart-grid, or the 
development of natural gas systems, including pipelines and liquefied natural gas 
terminals, can help the State achieve its energy goals. The plan must also assess and 
quantify the effect of the various options on consumers in this State in the short term and 
the long term. 
Sec. 2. PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. F, §4, sub-§6 is inneilded to read: 
6. Report. 
No later than December 2, 2009 May 1, 2010, the commission shall 
submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Second First Regular Session of the +24tft 125th 
Legislature. 
The Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters ·may 
submit a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second First Regular Session 
of the +24tft 125th Legislature after receipt of the report. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the laws that establish the Commission to Study Energy 
Infrastructure, which must develop a plan for agreements for leasing or otherwise 
allowing the use of state-owned lands or assets for the installation of lines, cables, 
pipelines or other structures for the transmission of energy resources, communication 
transmission systems or related facilities. The bill requires the commission to make 
specific findings regarding the potential for the development of renewable and other 
energy projects in this State before final adoption of an energy corridor plan. 
In 
developing the plan, the commission is required to consider and give preference to energy 
project development in this State. The commission is directed to also make findings of 
fact based on economic models developed by the Executive Department, State Planning 
Office to assess employment, taxation and other economic effects of power production in 
this State and the development of different types of corridors in this State. 
The 
commission is required to assess and quantifY the effect of the various options on 
consumers in this State in the short term and the long term. This bill also extends the 
commission's report deadline to May 1,2010.-
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