An Act To Further Energy Independence for the State
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0927
Committee Amendment CA_A_H554 (House)
Amends: 2 MRSA §9, 38 MRSA §579

F)[RST REGULAR SESSION 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 651, L.D. 927, Bill, "An Act To 
Further Energy Independence for the State" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 2 MRSA §9, s.ub-§2-A, ~, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. MM, §2 
and affected by §26, is amended to read: 
B. To the extent federal funds are inadequate to meet the funding needs ofthe office, 
the office may receive funds from the Efficiency Maine Trust, established in Title 
35-A, chapter 97, but only for that portion of the office's activities that support or 
reasonably relate to programs or activities of the Efficiency Maine Trust. 
The 
director shall keep an acc()unting ofthe office's resources devoted to its various duties 
and activities, including that portion of its resources devoted to activities in support 
of or reasonably related to programs or activities of the Efficiency Maine Trust. The 
office shall annually by Jaooary 15th provide the accounting to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy matters as part of its 
annual report under subsection 3, paragraph C-l. The joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over energy matters shall make recommendations to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
appropriations and financial affairs with regard to any proposed allocation of the 
Efficiency Maine Trust funds to support the office. 
In accordance with any 
legislative allocation or deallocation of Efficiency Maine Trust funds to support the 
office, the director shall request from the Efficiency Maine Trust and the trust shall 
provide the allocated resources to the office. 
Sec. 2. 2 MRSA §9, sub-§3, ~C, as amended by PL 2011, c. 400, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
C. In consultation with the Efficiency Maine Trust Board, established in Title 5, 
section 12004-G, subsection 10-C, prepare and submit a comprehensive state energy 
plan to the Governor and the Legislature by January 15,2009 and submit an updated 
plan every 2 years thereafter. Within the comprehensive state energy plan, the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 651, L.D. 927 
director shall identify opportunities to lower the total cost of energy to consumers in 
this State and transmission capacity and infrastructure needs and recommend 
appropriate actions to lower the total cost of energy to consumers in this State and 
facilitate the development and integration of new renewable energy generation within 
the State and support the State's renewable resource portfolio requirements specified 
in Title 35-A, section 3210 and wind energy development goals specified in Title 
35-A, section 3404. The comprehensive state energy plan must include a section that 
specifies the State's progress in meeting the oil dependence reduction targets in 
subsection 5. The office shall make recommendations, if needed, for additional 
legislative and administrative actions to ensure that the State can meet the reduction 
targets in subsection 5. The recommendations must include a cost and resource 
estimate for technology development needed to meet the reduction targetst ~ 
(1) Beginning in 2015, the update to the plan must: 
(a) Be submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters and the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters; 
(b) 
Address the association between energy planning and meeting the 
greenhouse gas reduction goals in the state climate action plan pursuant to 
Title 38, section 577. The director shall consult with the Department of 
Environmental Protection in developing this portion of the plan; 
(c) Include a section devoted to wind energy development, including: 
(i) The State's progress toward meeting the wind energy development 
goals established in Title 35-A, section 3404, subsection 2, including an 
assessment of the likelihood of achieving the goals and any 
recommended changes to the goals; 
(ii) 
Examination of the permitting process and any recommended 
changes to the permitting process; 
(iii) 
Identified successes in implementing the recommendations 
contained in the February 2008 final report of the Governor's Task Force 
on Wind Power Development created by executive order issued May 8, 
2007; 
(iv) A summary of tangible benefits provided by expedited wind energy 
developments, including, but not limited to, documentation of 
community benefits packages and community benefit agreement 
payments provided; 
(v) A review of the community benefits package requirement under Title 
35-A, section 3454, subsection 2, the actual amount of negotiated 
community benefits packages relative to the statutorily required 
minimum amount and any recommended changes to community benefits 
package policies; 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 651, L.D. 927 
(vi) Projections of wind energy developers' plans, as well as technology 
trends and their state policy implications; 
(vii) Recommendations, including, but not limited to, identification of 
places within the State's unorganized and deorganized areas for inclusion 
in the expedited permitting area established pursuant to Title 35-A, 
chapter 34-A and the creation of an independent siting authority to 
consider wind energy development applications; and 
(d) Include a description of activities undertaken pursuant to paragraph H. 
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and 
energy matters may report out legislation by February 1st of each odd-numbered year 
relating to the content of the plan. The joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over natural resources matters may make recommendations 
regarding that legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over energy matters. 
Sec. 3. 2 MRSA §9, sub-§3, ~C-l, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. H, §2, is 
amended to read: 
C-l. By February 1st January 15th of each year, prepare and submit to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy 
matters an annual report lhat describes the activities of the office during the previous 
calendar year in carrying out its duties under this subsection and describes the State's 
progress in implementation of the state energy plan prepared pursuant to paragraph C 
and its annual accounting pursuant to subsection 2-A, paragraph B. After receipt and 
review of the annual report required under this paragraph, the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may 
submit legislation relating to energy policy; 
Sec. 4. 2 MRS A §9, :mb-§3, ~H, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 656, Pt. C, §l, is 
amended to read: 
H. Work with transmission and distribution utilities, state agencies involved in the 
permitting of energy generation facilities and other relevant entities to negotiate 
agreements that create value for electricity consumers with developers of renewable 
generation who are interested in building energy generation facilities or developing or 
utilizing energy transmission infrastructure in this State. This paragraph does not 
authorize the director to he a signatory to any such agreement unless that authority is 
otherwise granted by law. The director shall reflort on activities lffidertaken fll:lrsl:lant 
to this flaragrRflh by FearHary 1, 2009, and annHally thereafter, to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislatl:lfe havingjl:lfisdiction over atilities and energy matters; 
Sec. 5. 38 MRS A §57:g, as amended by PL 2005, c. 144, §l, is further amended to 
read: 
§578. Progress evaluation 
By January 1, 2006 and by that date every 2 years thereafter, the department shall 
evaluate the State's progress toward meeting the reduction goals specified in section 576, 
review the cost-effectiveness of the actions taken toward meeting the reduction goals and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "An to H.P. 651, L.D. 927 
shall amend the action plan as necessary to ensure that the State can meet the reduction 
goals. 
The department shall submit a report of its evaluation to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters and the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy 
matters by January 1, 200e 2016 and by that date every 2 years thereafter. The joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters 
is authorized to report out legislation relating to the evaluation to the second regular 
session of any Legislature. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may make recommendations to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters 
regarding that legislation. Starting no earlier than January 1, 2008, the department may 
recommend to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
natural resources matters that the reduction goals specified in section 576 be increased or 
decreased. 
Sec. 6. 38 MRSA §579, first ~, as amended by PL 2007, c. 608, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
The department may participate in the regional greenhouse gas initiative as deseribed 
ill the climate aetieR plaR required iR seetieR 577 under chapter 3-B. The commissioner 
and the members of the Public Utilities Commission are authorized to act as 
representatives for the State in the regional organization as defined in section 580-A, 
subsection 20, may contract with organizations and entities when such arrangements are 
necessary to efficiently carry out the purposes of this section and may coordinate the 
State's efforts with other states and jurisdictions participating in that initiative, with 
respect to: 
Sec. 7. PL 2007, c. 661, Pt. A, §8, as amended by PL 2009, c. 642, Pt. A, §9, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 8. 2013 biennial update to the comprehensive energy plan. For the 
year 2013, the plan to reduce the use of oil in all sectors of the economy under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 2, section 9, subsection 5 serves as the biennial update to the 
comprehensive energy plan required under Title 2, section 9, subsection 3, paragraph C. 
Sec. 9. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Administration - Environmental Protection 0251 
Initiative: Allocates funds for administrative costs related to consulting with the 
Governor's Energy Office on the development of a new comprehensive state energy plan. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2013-14 
$506 
$506 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2014-15 
$675 
$675 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A·' to H.P. 651, L.D. 927 
Air Quality 0250 
Initiative: Provides funding for a half-time Environmental Special IV position and related 
administrative expenses to consult with the Governor's Energy Office in developing an 
analysis of the interaction between energy planning and greenhouse gas reduction goals 
and to assist with an analysis (If wind energy development, including permitting issues. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
2013-14 
0.500 
$29,561 
$1,415 
$30,976 
2013-14 
$30,976 
$506 
$31,482 
2014-15 
0.500 
$42,073 
$1,887 
$43,960 
2014-15 
$43,960 
$675 
$44,635 
SUMMARY 
This amendment consolidates various reporting requirements of the Governor's 
Energy Office into 2 primary reports, the annual report under the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 2, section 9, subsection 3, paragraph C-l and the biennial update to the 
comprehensive state energy plan under Title 2, section 9, subsection 3, paragraph C. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/18/13 
~ae 
LD927 
LR 960(02) 
An Act To Further Energy Independence for the State 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ;tt' / M J5S?' 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
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Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2013-14 
$30,976 
$30,976 
$506 
FY 2014-15 
$43,960 
$43,960 
$675 
Projections 
FY 2015-16 
$45,222 
$45,222 
$675 
Projections 
FY 2016-17 
$46,522 
$46,522 
$675 
This bill includes General Fund appropriations of $30,976 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $43,960 in fiscal year 2014-15 to 
the Department of Environmental Protection for a half-time Environmental Specialist IV position and related 
administrative expenses to consult with the Governor's Energy Office in developing an analysis of the interaction 
between energy planning and greenhouse gas reduction goals and to assist with an analysis of wind energy 
development, including permitting issues. Other Special Revenue Funds allocations are also included for central 
administrative costs of$506 and $675 in fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively. 
The Governor's Energy Office can implement the changes related to the comprehensive energy plan provisions 
utilizing existing resources available for the plan. 
LR0960(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1