An Act To Promote Community-based Energy
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1075
Committee Amendment CA_A_H463 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §1766-A, 35-A MRSA §3210, 35-A MRSA §3212, 35-A MRSA §10008, 35-A MRSA §321, 35-A MRSA §3212-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" it to H.P. 742, L.D. 1075, Bill, "An Act To 
Promote Community-based Energy" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act to Establish the Community-based Renewable Energy Pilot Program' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'PART A 
Sec. A-I. 5 MRSA §1766-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 52, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§1766-A. Electricity purchases for state buildings 
No later than January 1, 2010, all electricity consumed in state-owned buildings must 
be supplied by renewable resources. For purposes of this section, "renewable resource" 
means any renevlable resource defined has the same meaning as in Title 35-A, section 
3210, subsection 2, paragraph C. In ,purchasing electricity for state-owned buildings, the 
State may give preference to electricity generated by community-based renewable energy 
projects, as defined in Title 35-A, section 3602, subsection 1. 
Sec. A-2. 35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2007, c. 403, §6, is 
further amended to read: 
8. Credit trading. The commission shall allow competitive electricity providers to 
satisfY the portfolio requirements of subsections 3 and 3-A through the use of renewable 
energy credits if the commission determines that a reliable system of electrical attribute 
trading exists. When renewable energy credits are used to satisfy the' portfolio 
requirements of subsections 3 and 3-A, the value of a renewable energy credit for 
electricity generated by a community-based renewable energy project, as defined in 
section 3602, that is participating in the community-based renewable energy pilot 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~ 
:' 
'1:! 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "If" to H.P. 742, L.D. 1075 
program established in section 3603 and elects the renewable energy credit -multiplier 
under section 3605 is 150% of the amount of the electricity. 
Sec. A-3. 35-A MRSA §3212, sub-§4-D is enacted to read: 
4-D. 
Community-based renewable energy. 
The commission may incorporate 
energy generated by community-based renewable energy projects as defined in section 
3602, subsection 1 into the supply of standard-offer service. The commission shall 
encourage entities based in this State that are not otherwise either a standard-offer service 
provider or its affiliate to participate in supplying energy from community-based 
renewable energy projects pursuant to this subsection. 
Sec. A-4. 35-A MRSA c. 36 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 36 
COMMUNITY-BASED RENEWABLE ENERGY 
§3601. Short title 
This chapter may be known and cited as "the Community-based Renewable Energy 
Act." 
§3602. Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1. Community-based renewable energy project. "Community-based renewable 
energy project" means a locally owned electricity generating facility that generates 
electricity from an eligible renewable resource. 
2. Eligible renewable resource. "Eligible renewable resource" means a renewable 
resource as defined in section 3210, subsection 2, paragraph C, except that "eligible 
renewable resource" does not include a generator fueled by municipal solid waste in 
conjunction with recycling and does include a generator fueled by landfill gas. "Eligible 
renewable resource" includes a biomass generator whose fuel includes anaerobic 
digestion of agricultural products, byproducts or wastes., 
3. 
Locally owned electricity generating facility. 
"Locally owned electricity 
generating facility" means an electricity generating facility at least 51 % of which is 
owned by one or more qualifYing local owners. 
4. 
Program participant. "Program participant" means a community-based 
renewable energy project that is participating in the community-based renewable energy 
pilot program established in section 3603. 
is: 
5. Qualifying local owner. "QualifYing local owner" means a person or entity that 
A. An individual who is a resident of the State; 
B. 
A political subdivision of the State, including, but not limited to, a county, 
municipality, quasi-municipal corporation or district as defined in Title 30-A, section 
2351, school administrative unit as defined in Title 20-A, section 1, public or private 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
'-,1 
/ , 
') 
') 
.. ~. 
) 
~"&tt'" 
('''''\ ~ 
'. 
,{ 
( 
. 
... ,., .... ' 
COMMIITEE AMENDMENT ,if" to H.P, 742, L,O. 1075 
institution of higher education, regional council of governments or any other local or: 
regional governmental organization, including, but not limited to, a board, 
commission or association; 
C. A department, agency or instrumentality of the State; 
D. A federally recognized Indian tribe located in the State; 
E. A nonprofit corporation, organized under the laws of the State, including a unit 
owners association organized under Title 33, section 1603-101; or 
F. A business corporation, organized under the laws of the State, at least 51 % of 
·9 
which is owned by one or more residents of the State. 
§3603. Community-based renewable energy pilot program 
] ] 
1. Program established. The community-based renewable energy pilot program, 
referred to in this section as "the program," is established to encourage the sustainable 
development of community-based renewable energy' in the State. The program is 
administered by the commission. 
2. Program scope; limits on generating capacity. The commission shall limit 
participation in the program in accordance with this subsection. 
A. The installed generating capacity of a program participant may not exceed 10 
megawatts. 
B. The total installed generating capacity of all program participants combined may 
not exceed 50 megawatts. 
C. The total installed generating capacity of program participants within the service 
territory of a single investor-owned transmission and distribution utility may not 
exceed 25 megawatts, unless a higher capacity limit is authorized by the utility and 
approved by the commission. The commission shall detenninea generating capacity 
limit for the service territory of each investor-owned transmission and distribution 
utility at the outset of the program, taking into consideration the utility's electric load 
and share· of electricity market in the State. The commission may modify the 
generating capacity limit under this paragraph based on program experience. 
D. Of the 50-megawatt limit on total generating capacity under paragraph B, 10 
megawatts must be reserved at the outset of the program for program participants 
that: 
(1) Have an installed generating capacity ofless than 100 ki lowatts; or 
(2) Are located in the service territory of a consumer-owned transmission and 
distribution utility. 
The commission may modify the amount of generating capacity reserved under this 
paragraph based on program experience. 
E. The total installed generating capacity of program participants that receive the 
renewable energy credit multiplier incentive under section 3605 may not exceed 10 
megawatts. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.n.~.g. 
~~%~ 
~1t. '~ ~ 
.,. < 
]5 
]6 
.29 
3] 
.40 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT ,A "to H.P. 742, L.D. 1075 
3. Program eligibility criteria. To be eligible to participate in the program, a". 
community-based renewable energy project must: 
'j 
",' 
A. 
Provide documentation of a resolution of support passed by the municipal 
legislative body or municipal officers, as appropriate, of the municipality in which 
the community-based renewable energy project is proposed to be located, except that 
any project that is proposed to be located wholly in an unorganized or deorganized 
area of the State or that has a generating capacity of less than 100 kilowatts is exempt 
from the requirement set forth in this paragraph; 
B. 
In the case of a community-based renewable energy project proposed to be 
located on the tribal land or territory of a federally recognized Indian tribe in this 
State, including any land owned by the tribe or held in trust by the United States for 
the tribe, provide documentation that the tribe supports the community-based 
renewable energy project; 
C. Be connected to the electric grid of this State; 
D. Have an in-service date after September 1, 2009; and 
E. Satisfy the limits on generating capacity established in subsection 2. 
The commission shall prescribe an application form or procedure that must be used to 
apply to the program under this chapter. The application form or procedure must include 
any information that the commission determines necessary for the purpose of 
administering the program. The commission shall, within 30 days of receipt of a 
completed application, determine whether a community-based renewable energy project 
qualifies to participate in the program and respond in writing. 
4. Program incentives. Subject to the requirements of subsection 2, a program 
participant may elect one of the following program incentives: . 
A. A long-term contract for community-based renewable energy pursuant to section 
3604; or 
B. The renewable energy credit multiplier pursuant to section 3605. 
§3604. Long-term contracts for community-based renewable energy 
Long-term contracts with program participants who elect the long-term contract for 
community-based renewable energy pursuant to section 3603, subsection 4, paragraph A 
are governed by this section. 
1. 
Investor-owned 
transmission 
and 
distribution 
utilities; 
required 
participation. 
Notwithstanding section 3204, the commission may direct investor-
dwned transmission and distribution utilities to enter into long-term contracts with 
program participants located within the service territory of the utility for energy, capacity 
resources or renewable energy credits. The commission may direct investor-owned 
transmission and distribution utilities to enter into contracts under this subsection only as 
agents for their customers and only in accordance with this section. An investor-owned 
transmission and distribution utility shall sell energy, capacity resources or renewable 
energy credits purchased pursuant to this subsection into the wholesale electricity market 
or take other action relative to such energy, capacity resources or renewable energy 
credits as directed by the commission. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
') 
•• ,1 
) 
(""" 
.~ 
{;;.~i~ 
~~'{j 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT '1+" to H.P. 742,L.D. 1075 
2. 
Consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities; voluntary 
participation. 
A consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility may, at the 
option of the utility, enter into long-term contracts with program participants located 
within the service territory of the utility for energy, capacity resources or renewable 
energy credits. Consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities may enter into 
contracts under this subsection only as agents for their customers and only in accordance 
with this section. 
3. Sale of energy; contract procedures. Energy, capacity resources or renewable 
energy credits contracted in long-term contracts pursuant to this section may be sold into 
the wholesale electricity market in conjunction with solicitations for standard-offer 
supply bids under section 3212 or solicitations for green power offer bids under section 
3212-A. To the greatest extent possible, the commission shall develop procedures for 
long-term contracts for transmission and distribution utilities under this section having 
the same legal and financial effect as the procedures used for standard-offer service 
pursuant to section 3212 for transmission and distribution utilities. 
4. Contract term. A contract entered into pursuant to this section may not be for 
more than 20 years. 
5. Contract pricing; cost containment. The commission shall ensure that in any 
contract entered into pursuant to this section: 
A. The average price per kilowatt-hour within each contract year does not exceed 
10¢;and 
B. The cost of the contract does not exceed the cost of the project plus a reasonable 
rate of return on investment as detennined by the commission. 
6. Competitive solicitation process and contract negotiation; large generators. 
For program participants with a generating capacity of one megawatt or more, the 
commission shall, in accordance with this subsection, conduct competitive solicitations 
for long-tenn contracts. The commission shall require that bids include full project cost 
disclosure. Following a review of bids received, the commission may negotiate with one 
or more potential suppliers. 
The commission shall negotiate contracts that are 
commercially reasonable and that commit all parties to commercially reasonable 
behavior. In selecting program participants for contracting pursuant to this subsection, the 
commission shall select program participants that are competitive and the lowest priced 
when compared to other available bids of the same or similar contract duration or terms. 
7. Contract administration; small generators. For program participants with a 
generating capacity of less'than one megawatt, the commission shall administer long-term 
contracts at prices established by the commission by rule. The commission shall, at a, 
minimum, establish prices for energy generated by the following renewable resources: 
A. Wind power installations; 
B. Solar aITays and installations; and 
C. Any other renewable resource upon request of one or more community-based 
renewable energy generators that use that resource. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,~"\., 
1~~~ 
", "~ 
. 28 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT '4 "to HoP, 742, L.D. 1075 
The commission shall establish prices under this subsection based on an analysis of 
reasonable costs and may establish different prices for different resources or technologies 
and different prices by time of generation in accordance with that analysis. 
8. Cost recovery. The commission shall ensure that a transmission and distribution 
utility recovers in rates all costs of contracts entered into under this section, including but 
not limited to any effects on the utility's costs of capital. A price differential existing at 
any time during the term of the contract between the contract price and the prevailing 
market price at which the energy is sold must be reflected in rates and may not be 
considered to be imprudent. 
9. Contract payments. Contracts for capacity and related energy entered into 
pursuant to this section must provide that payments will be made only after contracted 
amounts of energy have been provided. 
' 
10. Ratepayer protection. The commission shall ensure that mechanisms are 
established to provide protections for ratepayers over the term of contracts entered into 
pursuant to this section. 
§3605. Renewable energy credit multiplier 
The renewable energy credit multiplier is governed by this section. The value of a 
renewable energy credit for electricity generated by a program participant that elects the 
renewable energy credit multiplier under section 3603, subsection 4, paragraph B is 150% 
of the amount of the electricity. When a program participant elects the renewable energy 
credit multiplier, the multiplier must be accounted for when renewable energy credits are 
used to satisfy the portfolio requirements of section 3210, subsections 3 and 3-A. 
§3606. Rules 
The commission shall adopt rilles to implement this chapter. Rules adopted under this 
section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
§3607. Tracking; biennial report 
The commission shall develop and administer a system to register and track the 
development of community-based renewable energy projects and by January 15, 2011 
and biennially by January 15th thereafter shall report to the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters on the program and 
the development of community-based renewable energy projects. 
The report must 
include, but is not limited to: 
1. 
Community-based renewable energy development. 
Documentation of the 
progress of community-based renewable energy development, including the number of 
community-based renewable energy projects in the State, the generating capacity ofthose 
projects and the kilowatt-hours of electricity purchased from community-based renewable 
energy projects; and 
2. Program implementation; assessment; recommendations. Actions taken by the 
, commission to implement the program, an assessment ofthe effectiveness of the program 
with respect to encouraging the sustainable development of community-based renewable 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
') 
" 
.'') 
..,J' 
') 
') 
(--'') 
~ 
'"';fc. 
:?~ •. ?t~\V 
~~ 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT ,~" to H.P. 742, L.D. 1075 
energy in the State and recommendations, including any necessary implementing 
legislation, to improve the program. 
§3608. Regulatory approvals; use of public resources 
1. Regulatory approval. The development, siting and operation of a community-
based renewable energy project is subject to all applicable regulatory reviews and 
approvals required by governmental entities, including, but not limited to, municipalities 
and state agencies, pursuant to law, ordinance or rule. 
2. Use of publicly owned land, water or facilities. Nothing in this chapter limits the 
authority of the State or a political subdivision of the State to use publicly owned land, 
water or facilities in the development and operation of a community-based renewable 
energy project or to lease publicly owned land, water or facilities to other qualifYing 
owners for the development and operation of a community-based renewable energy 
project. 
§3609. Repeal; authority for legislation 
This chapter is repealed December 31, 2015. The ioint standing committee of the 
. Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may report out legislation 
regarding this program to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature. 
Sec. A-5. 35-A MRSA §10008, sub-§6,~, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 317, §15, 
is amended to read: 
E. Nonelectric savings programs must be used to maximize fossil-fueled energy 
efficiency and conservation and associated greenhouse gas reductions, subject to the 
apportionment between fossil fuel and electricity conservation set forth in paragraph 
B. . Community-based renewable energy projects, as defined in section 3602, 
subsection 1, may apply for funding from the trust as nonelectric savings programs. 
Sec. A-6. 
Community-based renewable energy pilot program; first 
biennial report; incentives for economically disadvantaged areas. In the report 
due January 15,2011 under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3607, the 
Public Utilities Commission shall provide recommendations regarding policy options, 
including but not limited to financial incentives, to encourage the development of 
community-based renewable energy projects in economically disadvantaged areas of the 
State. For the purposes of this section, "economically disadvantaged areas" includes, but 
is not limited to, communities, counties and other geographic areas of the State in which 
the average weekly wage is below the state average weekly wage or the unemployment 
rate is greater than the state unemployment rate. 
Sec. A-7. Interim progress report. No later than February 15,2010, the Public 
Utilities Commission shall submit an interim progress report to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Utilities and Energy regarding the development and implementation of the 
community-based renewable energy pilot program pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 35-A, chapter 36, including, but not limited to: 
1. Rulemaking undertaken by the commission pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3606, 
including, but not limited to, rulemaking to establish prices for long-term contracts for 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMIITEE AMENDMENT "/1,, to H.P. 742, L.D. 1075 
program participants with a generating capacity of less than one megawatt pursuant to 
Title 35-A, section 3604, subsection 7; 
2. The development of contract terms and conditions for long-term contracts under 
Title 35-A, section 3604; and 
3. The number and types of projects that have expressed interest in the program to 
date, based on inquiries and applications made to the commission. 
PARTB 
Sec. B-1. 35-A MRSA §321O, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2007, c. 403, §5, is 
further amended to read: 
7. Information. The commission shall inform electricity consumers in this State of 
the benefits of electricity generated in this State using renewable resources and of the 
opportunities available in this State to purchase electricity that is generated using those 
resources,inc1uding, but not limited to, the green power offer and other green power 
supply products and renewable energy credit products certified under section 3212-A. 
The commission may not promote any renewable resources over others. The commission 
may apply for,receive and expend grant money from the United States Department of 
Energy and other government agencies for this purpose. 
Notwithstanding section 
3211-A, subsection 5, the commission also may use up to $100,000 per year from the 
conservation program fund established under section 3211-A, subsection 5 to support the 
purposes of this subsection. The commission may create or cause to be created a brand or 
logo to identify Maine renewable resources, including the green power offer and other 
green power supply products and renewable energy credit products certified under section 
3212-A, to consumers. The commission shall register any mark or logo created pursuant 
to this subsection with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in accordance 
with Title 10, chapter 301-A, or both. 
Any brand or logo created pursuant to this 
subsection may only be used in accordance with the purposes of this subsection as 
approved by the commission. 
Sec. B-2. 35-A MRSA §3212-A, sub-§l, ~A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 403, §8, 
is further amended to read: 
A. "Green power supply" means electricity ~ 
or renewable energy credits for 
electricity generated etHy from renewable capacity resources as defined in section 
3210-C, subsection 1, paragraph E, except that the total power production capacity 
limit of 100 megawatts under section 3210, subsection 2, paragraph C does not apply 
to wind power installations or from a generator fueled by landfill gas, including 
electricity generated by community-based renewable energy projects as defined in 
section 3602, subsection 1. For the purposes of this section, "green "Green power 
, 37 
supply" includes a biomass generator, whose fuel may include, but is not limited to, 
anaerobic digestion of agricultural products, byproducts or wastes. 
Sec. B-3. 35-A MRSA §3212-A, sub-§l-A is enacted to read: 
I-A. Green power offer. The commission shall arrange for a green power offer that 
is composed of green power supply in accordance with this subsection. 
Except as 
provided in this subsection, the commission shall ensure that the green power offer is 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
! 
" 
') 
) 
") 
,.' 
? 
,~~~~,~c. 
-'"~'--"..., 
r-;\ 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT '4" to H.P. 742, L.D. 1075 
available to all residential and small commercial electricity customers, as defined by the 
commission by rule, and shall administer a competitive bid process to select a green 
power offer provider or providers for the service territory of a transmission ·and 
distribution utility. 
A. The green power offer must be in addition to existing standard-offer service under 
section 3212. 
B. The commission shall, to the maximum extent possible: 
(1) Incorporate green power supply from community-based renewable energy 
projects, as defined in section 3602, subsection 1, into the green power offer; and 
(2) Encourage entities based in this State to provide green power supply from 
community-based renewable energy projects, as defined in section 3602, 
subsection 1 for the green power offer pursuant to this subsection. 
C. The green power·offer may include incidental amounts of electricity supply that 
do not meet the definition of green power supply, if the commission determines that 
including such electricity supply is necessary to ensure that a green power offer 
provider can meet its retail load obligation. 
D. The commission shall, in accordance with section 3210, subsection 7, inform 
residential and small commercial consumers of electricity in this State of the 
·19 
opportunity to purchase the green power offer. 
E. The commission is not required to arrange for a green power offer in the event 
that the commission receives no bids to provide the green power offer in a 
transmission and distribution utility's territory, determines that the bids it receives are 
inadequate or unacceptable or determines, based on prior experience arranging for a 
green power offer in a utility's territory, that it is reasonably likely that it will not 
receive any adequate or acceptable bids. 
F. The commission is not required to arrange for a green power offer for the territory 
of a consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility. If the commission 
arranges standard-offer service for a consumer-owned transmission and distribution 
utility, the consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility may elect to have 
the commission arrange a green power offer in accordance with this subsection. A 
consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility may establish a green power 
offer through a competitive bidding process conducted in accordance with the 
commission's rules governing the selection of a green power offer provider under this 
subsection. 
. 
The commission shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted under this 
subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. B-4. 35-A MRSA §3212-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 403, §8, is 
amended to read: 
2. Certification; information in bill inserts. Beginning July 1, 2008, information 
regarding the availability of the green power offer and of green power supply products 
and renewable energy credit products that are certified by the commission may, at the 
option of the provider of the products offer or the product and with the cooperation of the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
g~.11l~ 
"f.~¥.~" 
',,,, ' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,~" to H.P, 742, L.D. 1075 
transmission and distribution utility, be presented through inserts in customer bills issued 
by' transmission and distribution utilities. The costs of the inserts, including but not") 
limited to printing and postage costs, are the responsibility of the provider of the offer or 
,. 
product. The commission may define the criteria for certification of green power supply 
products and renewable energy credit products by order or by rule, and the commission 
may limit the criteria for certification for consumer protection and eligibility verification 
purposes. Rules adopted to implement this subsection are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. B-S. 3S-A MRSA §3212-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 403, §8, is 
amended to read: 
3. Repeal. This section is repealed July 1,2010 December 31, 2015.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
Like the bill, the amendment is designed to 
encourage the development of community-based renewable energy in the State. 
Part A establishes the community-based renewable energy pilot program, 
administered by the Public Utilities Commission, to encourage the sustainable 
development of community-based renewable energy in the State. The program has a 
, sunset date of December 31, 2015. 
Participation in the program is limited to 50 
megawatts of generating capacitY across all projects and each individual project is limited 
to 10 megawatts of generating capacity. To participate in the program, a community-
based renewable energy project must have demonstrated local support in the form of a 
resolution of support. 
A community-based renewable energy project that participates in the program may 
elect one of 2 program incentives: a long-term contract for energy generated by the 
project or a 150% multiplier on the value of renewable energy credits for electricity 
generated by the project, which must be accounted for when renewable energy credits are 
used to satisfy the State's renewable resource portfolio requirements. For the long-term 
contract option, the amendment establishes a maximum contract term of 20 years, 
establishes a cap of 10¢ per kilowatt-hour on the average price per kilowatt-hour within 
each contract year and requires the commission to ensure that mechanisms are established 
to protect electricity ratepayers over the contract term. The amendment authorizes the 
commission to direct investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to enter into 
long-term contracts with program participants and authorizes consumer-owned 
transmission and distribution utilities, at their own option, to enter such contracts. 
The amendment requires the commission to report biennially to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters 
regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the community-based renewable 
energy pilot program and the overall development of community-based renewable energy 
projects in the State. In the first annual report, the commission is required to include 
recommendations for policy options to encourage the development of community-based 
renewable energy .projects in economically disadvantaged areas of the State. 
The 
amendment also requires the commission to submit an interim progress report no ,later 
than February 15, 2010 regarding the development and implementation of the program. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
') 
'''''. ,~~~~;, 
r;; 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "~,, to H.P.742, L.D. 1075 
Pali Aalso authorizes, but does not require, the State to give preference to electricity 
generated by community-based renewable energy projects when purchasing electricity for 
the State and authorizes, but does not require, the commission to incorporate energy 
generated by community-based renewable energy projects into the supply of standard-
offer service. 
Part B requires the commission to arrange for a green power offer that is composed of 
electricity or renewable energy credits for electricity generated from renewable resources, 
including electricity generated by community-based renewable energy projects. It 
requires the commission to administer a competitive bid process to select a green power 
offer provider or providers. The amendment requires the commission to arrange the green 
power offer for the service territory of an investor-owned transmission and distribution 
utility and enables a consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility to elect to have 
the commission arrange a green power offer if the commission arranges standard-offer 
service for that utility. The amendment requires the commission to inform consumers 
about the opportunity to purchase the green power offer and adds language to current law 
to allow for information regarding the green power offer to be presented through inserts 
in customer bills under the process that currently exists for other green power supply 
products. The amendment provides a sunset date of December 31, 20 IS for the green 
power offer and for the existing law regarding bill inserts to inform consumers about 
green power supply products, which is currently repealed July 1,2010. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: OS/27/09 frac:.. 
124th MAINE LEGISLATURE· 
LD 1075 
LR 1141(02) 
An Act To Promote Community-based Energy 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment I~" 
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 (PUC) related to establishing a community-based, rene¥iable 
energy pilot program to encourage sustainable development of community-based energy in the State can be absorb',) 
. within existing budgeted resources. Additionally, the PUC is to arrange for a green power offer that is composed ot ... 
electricity or renewable energy credits for electricity generated by renewable resources. 
) 
LRl141(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1