Resolve, Directing Coordinated State Agencies To Negotiate with the Governing Leaderships of Portland Pipe Line Corporation and Montreal Pipe Line Limited for Sustainability-centered Repurposing of Stranded and At-risk Infrastructure Assets in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1436
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: KESSLER, MILLETT, FAY, MORALES, RECKITT, RISEMAN, RYKERSON

Legislative Document
No. 1436
H.P. 1048
House of Representatives, April 2, 2019
Resolve, Directing Coordinated State Agencies To Negotiate with 
the Governing Leaderships of Portland Pipe Line Corporation and 
Montreal Pipe Line Limited for Sustainability-centered 
Repurposing of Stranded and At-risk Infrastructure Assets in 
Maine
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative KESSLER of South Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator MILLETT of Cumberland and
Representatives: FAY of Raymond, MORALES of South Portland, RECKITT of South 
Portland, RISEMAN of Harrison, RYKERSON of Kittery.
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 legislation needs to take effect before the end of the 90-day period in 
order that the negotiations described in the legislation may begin as soon as possible; 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.  Coordinated state agencies to negotiate with the governing 
leaderships of Portland Pipe Line Corporation and Montreal Pipe Line 
Limited for sustainability-centered repurposing of stranded and at-risk 
infrastructure assets in Maine.  Resolved:  That the Department of Economic and 
Community Development, the Governor's Energy Office, the Department of 
Environmental Protection, the Bureau of Land Resources within the Department of 
Environmental Protection, the Maine Land Use Planning Commission and the Public 
Utilities Commission in coordination shall negotiate directly with the executive and board 
leaderships of the Portland Pipe Line Corporation and Montreal Pipe Line Limited parent 
companies Suncor Energy, Shell Oil Company and Imperial Oil Limited a proposal for 
repurposing the Portland-Montreal pipeline and related real estate holdings in the State.  
The proposal, building on the sustainability language promulgated by the companies, 
must include a redevelopment strategy and revenue model acceptable to those companies' 
investors in accordance with the companies' own sustainability goals.  The asset to be 
addressed by the proposal is the pipeline itself, which is to be repurposed as a conduit for 
high-voltage electric transmission lines such as those that serve Hydro-Quebec and which 
will act as a timely alternative to the proposed New England Clean Energy Connect 
transmission project.
Under the proposal, existing Portland Pipe Line Corporation and Montreal Pipe Line 
Limited employees would have their efforts directed toward the technical and 
management opportunities created by implementation of the proposal.
The Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement 
and Business shall appoint a project liaison or project liaisons to coordinate the proposal 
over a 6-month period, which may be extended as needed.  The scope of project 
coordination undertaken by the project liaison or project liaisons may include 
coordination with state agencies and local jurisdictions as well as coordination with land 
use regulators in New Hampshire, Vermont and the provincial government of Quebec, 
Canada.
Sec. 2.  Moratorium.  Resolved:  That a state agency may not issue any further 
permits related to the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project before 
the proposal under section 1 is complete, as determined by the Department of Economic 
and Community Development.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Economic and Community Development, the 
Governor's Energy Office, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Bureau of 
Land Resources within the Department of Environmental Protection, the Maine Land Use 
Planning Commission and the Public Utilities Commission in coordination to negotiate 
directly with the executive and board leaderships of the Portland Pipe Line Corporation 
and Montreal Pipe Line Limited parent companies Suncor Energy, Shell Oil Company 
and Imperial Oil Limited a proposal for repurposing the Portland-Montreal pipeline and 
related real estate holdings in the State.  It directs the Joint Standing Committee on 
Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business to appoint a project 
liaison or project liaisons to coordinate the proposal over a 6-month period, which may be 
extended as needed.  
It also prohibits any state agency from issuing any further permits related to the New 
England Clean Energy Connect transmission project before the proposal is complete, as 
determined by the Department of Economic and Community Development