An Act To Improve Maine's Renewable Portfolio Standard
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1061
Committee Amendment CA_A_S124 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " A" to S.P. 395, L.D. 1061, Bill, "An Act To 
Improve Maine's Renewable Portfolio Standard" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Regarding Maine's Renewable Resource Portfolio Requirements' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Portfolio requirements for new renewable capacity resources. 
Resolved: 
That the Public Utilities Commission, referred to in this resolve as "the 
commission," shall review and make recommendations for improvements to the portfolio 
requirements for new renewable capacity resources in Title 35-A, section 3210, 
subsection 3-A, referred to in this section as "new renewable portfolio requirements." In 
fulfilling the requirements of this section, the commission shall: 
1. Examine the number, type and location of the resources used to satisfY the new 
renewable portfolio requirements based on the compliance reports due July 1, 2009 
pursuant to commission rule; 
2. Analyze the costs and benefits of: 
A. Establishing a requirement that the owner or operator of a new renewable capacity 
resource used to satisfY the new renewable portfolio requirements supply all or a 
fixed percentage of the electricity from its generating facility to the New England 
Power Pool control area or to the area administered by the independent system 
administrator for northern Maine for a minimum period of time; and 
B. Establishing a prohibition on economic withholding or curtailment with respect to 
the delivery of electricity that is imported into the State from a renewable resource 
generating facility located outside of the New England Power Pool control area or the 
area administered by the independent system administrator for northern Maine by the 
owner or operator of a new renewable capacity resource used to satisfY the new 
renewable portfolio requirements, with an exception to the prohibition for the event 
of a planned or forced transmission line outage preventing the import of the 
Page I - 124LRI222(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S,P, 395, L.D, 1061 
electricity or when the applicable interpool tie lines are operating at full transfer 
capacity. 
The analysis of costs and benefits must consider impacts on prices of renewable energy 
credits; retail electricity prices; regional resource diversity and power supply; the 
development of new renewable capacity resources within the State and the New England 
Power Pool control area and related economic impacts withiJi the State; and the extent to 
whi'ch renewable resource generating facilities located outside of the New England Power 
Pool control area or the area administered by the independent system administrator for 
northern Maine are used to meet the new renewable portfolio requirements; 
3. Review current law and commission rules regarding the new renewable portfolio 
II 
requirements and assess the potential risks and costs associated with making no change to 
the existing new renewable portfolio requirements; and 
4. Develop recommendations regarding changes to the law, rule or other efforts that 
could be undertaken to strengthen incentives for the development of new renewable 
resources within the State, to enhance the commission's ability to address any cost 
concerns associated with the new renewable portfolio requirements and to ensure delivery 
of power from renewable resources into the State or the New England Power Pool control 
area during periods of high prices or peak loads; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report; authority for legislation. Resolved: 
That, by January 15, 
10, the commission shall submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and 
Energy a report of its findings and recommendations pursuant to section I. After receipt 
and review of the report, the committee may submit legislation concerning the subject 
matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the I 24th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve. The amendment directs the Public 
Utilities Commission to review and make recommendations for improvements to the 
portfolio requirements for new renewable capacity resources that must be met by 
competitive electricity providers in this State. The amendment specifically requires the 
commission to examine the costs and benefits of imposing additional requirements on 
owners and operators of new renewable capacity resources used to satisfy the new 
renewable portfolio requirements, which was proposed in the bill, and to develop 
recommendations to strengthen incentives for the development of new renewable 
resources within the State. 
The amendment requires the commission to submit a report of its findings and 
recommendations for the portfolio requirements for new renewable capacity resources to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy by January 15, 20 10, and it 
authorizes the committee to submit legislation concerning this subject to the Second 
Regular Session of the I 24th Legislature. 
FISCAL );OTE REQ'ClRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 05/01/09 .wac:.. 
LD 1061 
LR 1222(02) 
An Act To Improve Maine's Renewable Portfolio Standard 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Utilities and Energy 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The additional costs to the Public Utilities Commission associated with reviewing and making recommendations for 
improvements to the new renewable pOlifolio requirements can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1222(02) - FIscal Note - Page 1 of 1