An Act To Create an Updated Unified Maine Climate Action Plan
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0893
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: DILL, DUNPHY, BLACK, GRATWICK, VITELLI, FECTEAU, O'NEIL, STANLEY
Amends: 38 MRSA §578-A

Legislative Document
No. 893
S.P. 259
In Senate, February 19, 2019
An Act To Create an Updated Unified Maine Climate Action Plan
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DILL of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative DUNPHY of Old Town and
Senators: BLACK of Franklin, GRATWICK of Penobscot, VITELLI of Sagadahoc, 
Representatives: FECTEAU of Biddeford, O'NEIL of Saco, STANLEY of Medway.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §578-A is enacted to read:
§578-A.  Access to climate data; University of Maine System
The University of Maine System shall develop and implement procedures for 
providing climate data collected by the University of Maine System to residents of the 
State.
Sec. 2.  Maine Climate Action Plan update.  The Department of Environmental 
Protection, referred to in this section as "the department," working with the Maine 
Interagency Climate Adaptation Work Group, referred to in this section as "the MICA 
Work Group," and the University of Maine, shall prepare an update to the Maine Climate 
Action Plan developed in 2004 by the department pursuant to Public Law 2003, chapter 
and referred to in this section as "the plan."
1.  Greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.  The updated plan must identify 
targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions beyond 2020.
2.  Mitigation strategies.  The updated plan must address climate change mitigation 
strategies.  The department shall update mitigation strategies for reducing the emission of 
greenhouse gases in the State, including updating the strategies for greenhouse gas 
mitigation included in the plan and identifying new strategies by applying the latest 
scientific and technological information available related to climate change.
3.  Adaptation strategies.  The updated plan must address climate change adaptation 
strategies.  The department shall update the adaptation priorities described in the 2010 
report entitled "People and Nature Adapting to a Changing Climate:  Charting Maine's 
Course" submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources during the 
adaptation strategies for implementation that prioritize cost-effectiveness and the welfare 
of the State's citizens and visitors and that recognize the value of natural resources in the 
State.
4.  MICA Work Group; stakeholder group.  The department, in coordination with 
the MICA Work Group, shall convene a stakeholder group to evaluate the climate change 
mitigation strategies and adaptation strategies available to the State in order to update the 
plan pursuant to this section.  The stakeholder group must include a broad representation 
of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, representatives of:
A.  Business, industry and trade associations;
B.  Nongovernmental organizations;
C.  State agencies with an interest in climate change mitigation and adaptation that 
will likely be involved in the implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies 
in the updated plan;
D.  Municipal governments;
E.  Native American communities; and
F.  The University of Maine and other institutions of higher education in the State 
who have expertise in climate change.
The MICA Work Group is a group coordinated by the department with representatives 
from 8 state agencies that consolidate resources for climate change adaptation and 
mitigation and collaborate on opportunities for cross-agency projects related to climate 
change.  The 8 agencies represented on the MICA Work Group are the Department of 
Environmental Protection; the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; the 
Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine Emergency 
Management Agency; the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention; the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; the 
Department of Marine Resources; the Department of Transportation; and the Governor's 
Energy Office.  Funding for staff support to the MICA Work Group and for meeting, 
travel and other operational expenses related to the department's work in updating the 
plan must be provided to the department from the General Fund.
5.  Student internships.  The department, in coordination with the University of 
Maine, shall provide internships for students to work with the department and the MICA 
Work Group in the development and implementation of the updated plan.  An internship 
coordinator at the University of Maine shall manage the internship program and facilitate 
the integration of University of Maine resources, including, but not limited to, the 
Climate Change Institute, the Maine Sea Grant, the Cooperative Extension, research 
centers and academic units, in the development of the updated plan.  Funding for the 
internships and the internship coordinator must be provided to the University of Maine 
from the General Fund.
6.  Consultants.  The department may contract with consultants to assist the 
department in updating the plan.
7.  Report.  By December 1, 2021, the department shall submit a report on the 
updated plan to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
environment and natural resources matters.  The committee may submit legislation 
relating to the report, including, but not limited to, legislation adopting the greenhouse 
gas emissions targets, mitigation strategies and adaptation strategies identified in the 
updated plan and requiring future progress reports to the committee, to the Second 
Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
Administration - Environmental Protection 0251
Initiative: Provides a one-time appropriation for staff support to the Maine Interagency 
Climate Adaptation Work Group and for consultants.
Administration - Environmental Protection 0251
Initiative: Provides an appropriation for All Other costs for meetings, travel and other 
operating expenses related to work on preparing an update to the Maine Climate Action 
Plan. 
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE 
Educational and General Activities - UMS 0031
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to develop and implement procedures for providing 
climate data collected by the University of Maine System to residents of the State in 
accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 578-A.
Educational and General Activities - UMS 0031
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for an internship program with the Department of 
Environmental Protection for students to work with the department and the Maine 
Interagency Climate Adaptation Work Group in the development and implementation of 
an update to the Maine Climate Action Plan.
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$175,000
$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$175,000
$0
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$20,000
$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$20,000
$0
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2019-20
2020-21
GENERAL FUND
$195,000
$0
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$195,000
$0
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$35,000
$35,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$35,000
$35,000
Educational and General Activities - UMS 0031
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for an internship coordinator to manage the internship 
program and facilitate the integration of University of Maine resources in the 
development of an update to the Maine Climate Action Plan.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection, working with the 
Maine Interagency Climate Adaptation Work Group, or MICA Work Group, and the 
University of Maine, to update the Maine Climate Action Plan developed in 2004 by the 
department.  It requires the updated plan to address both mitigation and adaptation 
strategies.  It requires the department and the MICA Work Group to convene a group of 
stakeholders to evaluate the mitigation and adaptation strategies in order to update the 
plan and it provides for internships for University of Maine students to work on the 
development and implementation of the updated plan.  It authorizes the department to 
hire consultants.  It requires the University of Maine System to develop and implement 
procedures for providing climate data to residents of the State.  It also includes an 
appropriations and allocations section.
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$50,000
$50,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$50,000
$50,000
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$20,000
$20,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$20,000
$20,000
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF 
TRUSTEES OF THE 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2019-20
2020-21
GENERAL FUND
$105,000
$105,000
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$105,000
$105,000
SECTION TOTALS
2019-20
2020-21
GENERAL FUND
$300,000
$105,000
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$300,000
$105,000