An Act To Establish a Renewable Energy License Plate
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0226
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: RYKERSON, CLEVELAND, BEAVERS, GIDEON, HOBBINS, KORNFIELD, MONAGHAN-DERRIG, MOONEN
Amends: 29-A MRSA §456-H

Legislative Document 
No. 226 
H.P. 187 
House of Representatives, February 5, 2013 
An Act To Establish a Renewable Energy License Plate 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative RYKERSON of Kittery. 
Cosponsored by Senator CLEVELAND of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: BEAVERS of South Berwick, GIDEON of Freeport, HOBBINS of Saco, 
KORNFIELD of Bangor, McLEAN of Gorham, MONAGHAN-DERRIG of Cape Elizabeth, 
MOONEN of Portland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §456-H is enacted to read: 
§456-H.  Renewable energy registration plates 
The Secretary of State shall issue renewable energy registration plates beginning June 
1, 2014 in accordance with this section.  Renewable energy registration plates are not 
required for registration of a motor vehicle but are to allow citizens to participate 
voluntarily to fund a program to benefit programs to support renewable energy. 
1.  Renewable energy registration plate.  The Secretary of State, upon receiving an 
application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, 
the registration fee required by section 501 and the administrative fee and voluntary 
contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of 
renewable energy registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates.  
These plates must bear identification numbers and letters. 
2.  Administrative fee and contribution to special programs.  A person may 
contribute to the Renewable Energy Special Programs Fund established by the Treasurer 
of State pursuant to subsection 7 by applying for the renewable energy registration plates 
and submitting, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, a sum of $20 
credited as follows: 
A.  Nine dollars to the Renewable Energy Special Programs Fund established by the 
Treasurer of State in subsection 7; 
B.  Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
3.  Design.  A sponsor must submit a design for the renewable energy registration 
plate to the Secretary of State for approval or modification in accordance with section 
468, subsection 5.  The Secretary of State shall provide the final design to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters 
prior to manufacture of the plates. 
4.  Duplicate plates prohibited.  The Secretary of State shall issue renewable energy 
registration plates in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence.  Vanity plates may 
not duplicate vanity plates issued in another class of plate. 
5.  Weight limit.  Renewable energy registration plates may be issued for a motor 
vehicle that does not exceed 10,000 pounds.  A motor vehicle that exceeds 6,000 pounds 
is subject to the fees in section 504. 
6.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for renewable energy registration plates is $15, 
which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A.  Nine dollars to the Renewable Energy Special Programs Fund established by the 
Treasurer of State in subsection 7; 
B.  Five dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
7.  Special fund established.  The Treasurer of State shall establish the Renewable 
Energy Special Programs Fund to increase funding to programs that support renewable 
energy. 
8.  Transfer of fees.  On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the 
revenue from the issuance and renewal of the renewable energy registration plates to the 
Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 6. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a specialty license plate to increase funding for renewable energy 
programs.