Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Economic, Environmental and Energy Benefits of Energy Storage to the Maine Electricity Industry
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1741
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: THIBODEAU, GIDEON, DION, HILL, MAKER, WOODSOME, BERRY, GILLWAY, PIERCE, SANBORN

Legislative Document
No. 1741
S.P. 640
In Senate, December 22, 2017
Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Economic, 
Environmental and Energy Benefits of Energy Storage to the Maine 
Electricity Industry
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 19, 2017.  Referred to the Committee 
on Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President THIBODEAU of Waldo.
Cosponsored by Speaker GIDEON of Freeport and
Senators: DION of Cumberland, HILL of York, MAKER of Washington, WOODSOME of 
York, Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, GILLWAY of Searsport, PIERCE of 
Dresden, SANBORN of Portland.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this resolve establishes the Commission To Study the Economic, 
Environmental and Energy Benefits of Energy Storage to the Maine Electricity Industry 
to examine the electricity industry in the State and the potential and benefits of energy 
storage; and
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next 
legislative session; 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.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the Commission To Study 
the Economic, Environmental and Energy Benefits of Energy Storage to the Maine 
Electricity Industry, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be 
it further
Sec. 2.  Membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
commission consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
1.  Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including a 
member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
2.  Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the 
largest number of seats in the Legislature;
3.  Four members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
A.  A representative of the energy storage industry;
B.  A representative of the hydroelectric energy storage industry;
C.  A representative of an electric utility in the State; and
D.  A representative of academia with suitable expertise in the electricity industry; 
and
4.  Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as 
follows:
A.  A representative of a conservation organization;
B.  A representative of a business that uses a significant amount of electricity in the 
State;
C.  A representative of a large-scale battery energy storage system owner; and
D.  A representative of a small-scale battery energy storage system owner; and be it 
further
Sec. 3.  Commission chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is 
the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair 
of the commission; and be it further
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall:
1.  Review and evaluate the economic, environmental and energy benefits of energy 
storage to the State's electricity industry, as well as public policy and economic proposals 
to create and maintain a sustainable future for energy storage in the State;
2.  Consider the challenges of the broad electricity market in the State, including 
challenges with transmission and stranded renewable energy generation in northern 
portions of the State, and analyze whether energy storage is part of a transmission 
solution;
3.  Consider whether the environmental, economic, resiliency and energy benefits of 
energy storage support updating the State's energy policy to strengthen and increase the 
role that energy storage plays throughout the State;
4.  Consider the costs and benefits of energy storage system procurement targets, 
including benefits of cost savings to ratepayers from the provision of services, including 
energy price arbitrage, capacity, ancillary services and transmission and distribution asset 
deferral or substitution; direct cost savings to customers that deploy energy storage 
systems; an improved ability to integrate renewable resources; improved reliability and 
power quality; the effect on retail electric rates over the life of a given energy storage 
system compared to the effect on retail electric rates using alternatives to energy storage 
systems over the life of the alternatives; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and any other 
costs and benefits reasonably related to the application of energy storage system 
technology, compared to the effect of leaving current policies in place; and
5.  Examine any other issues to further the purposes of the study.
In carrying out the duties under this section, the commission shall seek public input 
and shall consult and collaborate with stakeholders and experts in the fields of economic 
development, natural resources and energy policy; and be it further
Sec. 6.  Meetings. Resolved:  That the commission shall hold at least 4 meetings; 
and be it further
Sec. 7.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission.  
The commission may invite the 
Department of Economic and Community Development, the Public Utilities Commission, 
the Office of the Public Advocate, the Governor's Energy Office and the Efficiency 
Maine Trust and other appropriate agencies of State Government to provide additional 
staff support or assistance to the commission; and be it further
Sec. 8.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than November 7, 2018, the 
commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, including, but not limited to, legislation adopting 
procurement targets for the State for energy storage systems behind customer meters and 
energy storage systems connected to transmission or distribution facilities if proven 
beneficial for ratepayers in the cost-benefit analysis under section 5, for presentation to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy, utilities 
and technology matters.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Commission To Study the Economic, Environmental and 
Energy Benefits of Energy Storage to the Maine Electricity Industry.