An Act To Promote Renewable Energy Resources by Establishing an Energy-to-Gas Pilot Project
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2017
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: RILEY, WOODSOME, BERRY, CAIAZZO, VITELLI
Amends: 35-A MRSA §103

Legislative Document
No. 2017
H.P. 1438
House of Representatives, January 14, 2020
An Act To Promote Renewable Energy Resources by Establishing 
an Energy-to-Gas Pilot Project
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RILEY of Jay.
Cosponsored by Senator WOODSOME of York and
Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, CAIAZZO of Scarborough, Senator: VITELLI of 
Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §103, sub-§2, ¶E is enacted to read:
E.  The commission shall oversee a pilot project to convert excess renewable energy 
to methane gas and store the converted methane for future use.
Sec. 2.  Renewable energy to methane gas pilot project.  The Public Utilities 
Commission shall develop and oversee, pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
35-A, section 103, subsection 2, paragraph E, a pilot project to convert excess renewable 
energy to methane gas and to store the converted methane gas for future use.
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Commission" means the Public Utilities Commission.
B.  "Energy-to-gas facility" means a facility at which renewable energy is converted 
to methane gas and stored.
C.  "Pilot project" means the energy-to-gas pilot project established pursuant to this 
section.
D.  "Renewable energy" means electricity generated from renewable and efficient 
resources, including, but not limited to, wind, solar and tidal power.
2.  Pilot project requirements.  The commission, no later than January 1, 2021, shall 
establish the pilot project with the following requirements:
A.  The construction of a maximum of 3 energy-to-gas facilities, each up to 10 
megawatts in production capacity;
B.  Siting requirements for the energy-to-gas facilities that maximize the use and 
availability of renewable energy; and
C.  An expiration date for the pilot project of December 31, 2026.
3.  One-time exemption from transmission and distribution charges.  Renewable 
energy transmitted to an energy-to-gas facility for conversion to methane gas pursuant to 
the pilot project is exempt from transmission and distribution charges for delivery of 
electric power, including volumetric, demand and standby charges.
4. Report. The commission, by November 1, 2021, shall submit a report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy and utility matters 
regarding the progress made on establishing the pilot project, including the number of 
energy-to-gas facilities constructed and the amount of renewable energy converted into 
methane gas by those energy-to-gas facilities.  The joint standing committee may report 
out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the report, 
including legislation extending or making permanent the pilot project.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to develop and oversee a pilot 
project for the conversion of excess renewable energy generated from sources such as 
wind, solar or tidal power into methane gas and the storage of the converted methane gas 
for future use.  Up to 3 energy-to-gas facilities, each up to 10 megawatts in production 
capacity, may be established.  The transmission of the renewable energy to an energy-to-
gas facility is exempt from all transmission and distribution charges.  The commission is 
required to establish the pilot project no later than January 1, 2021; the pilot project 
expires December 31, 2026.