An Act To Provide Grants to Public Educational and Municipal Entities for Feasibility Studies of Renewable Energy Projects
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1348
Committee Amendment CA_A_H227 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "PI" to H.P. 949, L.D. 1348, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide Grants to Public Educational and Municipal Entities for Feasibility Studies of 
Renewable Energy Projects" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Provide Grants to Public Educational and Municipal Entities for 
Feasibility Studies of Renewable Energy Projects' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, promoting renewable energy and promoting energy efficiency are 
significant priorities of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; 
and 
Whereas, significant funding from 
the federal 
American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be disbursed to the Public Utilities Commission in the 
immediate future for energy initiatives, including renewable energy programs; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
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 
Sec. 1. Feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Resolved: That 
the Public Utilities Commission shall, to the extent allowed, apply federal funds received 
by the commission under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
to provide grants to public educational and municipal entities to conduct feasibility 
studies for the installation and operation of cost-effective renewable energy projects on 
public property. For purposes of this section, "public educational and municipal entities" 
includes the University of Maine System, the Maine Maritime Academy, the Maine 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"A "to H.P. 949, L.D. 1348 
Community College System, counties, municipalities, quasi-municipal corporations or 
districts and school administrative units, and "public property" means land, structures, 
facilities and other real property under the ownership or control of public educational and 
municipal entities. 
Subject to the availability of funds and qualified applicants, the commission shall 
select grant recipients for feasibility studies under this section and shall determine the 
amount of funding distributed to each recipient. In selecting grant recipients under this 
section, the commission shall give priority to proposals from public educational and 
municipal entities that have committed to fund at least 10% of the cost of the feasibility 
study either in a financial commitment or an equivalent value of volunteer or in-kind 
contributions as determined by the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Runes. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission may adopt rules, 
as necessary, to implement this resolve. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine 
technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 
2-A; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Reports. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shall prepare 
and submit an interim report and a final report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters regarding grants provided 
to public educational and municipal entities to conduct feasibility studies for installation 
and operation of renewable energy projects on public property in accordance with section 
1. The interim report must be submitted no later than April 1, 2010, and the final report 
must be submitted no later than December 31, 2011. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve and adds an emergency preamble and 
clause. The resolve directs the Public Utilities Commission to utilize federal stimulus 
funds made available under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
2009 to provide grants to public educational and municipal entities to conduct feasibility 
studies for the installation and operation of cost-effective renewable energy projects on 
public property. The amendment directs the commission to give priority to applicants 
that commit to fund 10% of the cost of the feasibility study either in a financial 
commitment or the equivalent value of volunteer or in-kind contributions. 
The 
amendment authorizes the commission to adopt rules as necessary to administer the 
grants and directs the Public Utilities Commission to submit an interim report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy 
matters by April 1, 2010 and a final report no later than December 31, 2011 regard ing the 
grants provided. 
FISCAL :\OTE REQLJl<.f.D 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 05104/09 ;::k?ac 
LD 1348 
LR 1364(02) 
An Act To Provide Grants to Public Educational and Municipal Entities for Feasibility Studies of 
Renewable Energy Projects 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
. Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "#" 
Committee: Utilities and Energy 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
The additional costs to the Public Utilities Commission associated withestablishing and administering a grant 
program and other admmistrative duties can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1364(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1