An Act To Encourage the Use of Renewable Energy
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1562
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: LAWRENCE, BLUME, HYMANSON
Amends: 2 MRSA §9, 5 MRSA §1766-A, 5 MRSA §1830

Legislative Document
No. 1562
S.P. 497
In Senate, April 16, 2019
An Act To Encourage the Use of Renewable Energy
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LAWRENCE of York.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BLUME of York, HYMANSON of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  2 MRSA §9, sub-§6-A is enacted to read:
6-A.  Renewable Energy Program.  The Renewable Energy Program, referred to in 
this subsection as "the program," is established to promote the achievement of the 
following goal:  that, by January 1, 2050, 100% of the energy consumed in this State will 
be supplied by renewable resources as defined in Title 35-A, section 3210, subsection 2, 
paragraph C.  The director shall work with the Public Utilities Commission, the 
Efficiency Maine Trust Board established under Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 
10-C and the Department of Environmental Protection to develop and implement a plan 
to achieve the goal.  By January 1, 2020 and annually thereafter, the director shall submit 
a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy 
matters on the program and the progress toward the goal.
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §1766-A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §1, is further 
amended to read:
§1766-A.  Electricity purchases
No later than January 1, 2010, all electricity consumed in state-owned buildings must 
be supplied by renewable resources.  No later than January 1, 2030, all electricity 
purchased by state agencies must be supplied by renewable resources. No later than 
January 1, 2050, all heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in state-owned or 
state-leased buildings must be electrical and the electricity must be supplied by renewable 
resources.  For purposes of this section, "renewable resource" 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. 3.  5 MRSA §1830, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 386, Pt. H, §10, is 
amended to read:
B.  Specifications for vehicles to be acquired by the State, except that, no later than 
January 1, 2050, all vehicles acquired must be electric vehicles; and
SUMMARY
This bill:
1.  Establishes the Renewable Energy Program to promote the achievement of the 
following goal:  that, by January 1, 2050, 100% of the energy consumed in this State will 
be supplied by renewable resources;
2.  Directs that, no later than January 1, 2030, all electricity purchased by state 
agencies must be supplied by renewable resources and that, no later than January 1, 2050, 
all heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in state-owned or state-leased 
buildings must be electrical and the electricity must be supplied by renewable resources; 
and
3.  Directs that, no later than January 1, 2050, all vehicles acquired for the state 
vehicle fleet must be electric vehicles.