An Act To Transition State and Local Motor Vehicle Fleets to 100 Percent Zero-emission Vehicles
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1579
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: VITELLI, BALDACCI, LAWRENCE, BRENNAN, DUNPHY, GROHOSKI
Amends: 5 MRSA §1830, 20-A MRSA §5401, 25 MRSA §2918, 30-A MRSA §125, 30-A MRSA §3111

Legislative Document
No. 1579
S.P. 456
In Senate, April 27, 2021
An Act To Transition State and Local Motor Vehicle Fleets to 100 
Percent Zero-emission Vehicles
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Cosponsored by Senators: BALDACCI of Penobscot, LAWRENCE of York, Representatives: 
BRENNAN of Portland, DUNPHY of Old Town, GROHOSKI of Ellsworth, McCREA of Fort 
Fairfield.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §1830, sub-§12 is enacted to read:
12.  Vehicle emissions goals.  The Central Fleet Management Division in acquiring, 
maintaining and managing light-duty motor vehicles shall to the extent practicable do so in 
a manner designed to meet the following goals:
A.  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the state fleet of light-duty motor vehicles by 
75% by 2035; and
B.  Transition 100% of the state fleet of light-duty motor vehicles to zero-emission 
vehicles by 2040.
For purposes of this subsection, "light-duty motor vehicle" means any vehicle with a gross 
vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §5401, sub-§15-A is enacted to read:
15-A.  Zero-emission public school bus fleet goal.  The department in approving 
school bus purchases, contracts and leases under subsection 15 shall to the extent 
practicable grant such approvals in a manner designed to meet the following goals:
A.  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the public school bus fleet by 75% by 2035; 
and
B.  Transition 100% of the public school bus fleet to zero-emission school buses by 
2040.
The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.  Rules adopted pursuant to 
this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 
2-A.
Sec. 3.  25 MRSA §2918 is enacted to read:
§2918.  Vehicle emissions goals
The Department of Public Safety in acquiring, maintaining and managing light-duty 
motor vehicles shall to the extent practicable do so in a manner designed to meet the 
following goals:
1.  Reduction by 2035.  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the department's fleet of 
light-duty motor vehicles by 75% by 2035; and
2.  Transition by 2040.  Transition 100% of the department's fleet of light-duty motor 
vehicles to zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
For purposes of this section, "light-duty motor vehicle" means any vehicle with a gross 
vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds.
Sec. 4.  30-A MRSA §125, sub-§2 is enacted to read:
2.  Zero-emission transportation fleet goal.  A county in approving purchases, 
contracts and leases for light-duty motor vehicles used for utility services or for public 
transportation shall to the extent practicable grant such approvals in a manner designed to 
meet the following goals:
A.  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the county fleet of light-duty motor vehicles 
used for utility services or for public transportation by 75% by 2035; and
B.  Transition 100% of the county fleet of light-duty motor vehicles used for utility 
services or for public transportation to zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
For purposes of this subsection, "light-duty motor vehicle" means any vehicle with a gross 
vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds.
Sec. 5.  30-A MRSA §3111 is enacted to read:
§3111.  Vehicle emissions goals
A municipality in approving purchases, contracts and leases for light-duty motor 
vehicles used for utility services or for public transportation shall to the extent practicable 
grant such approvals in a manner designed to meet the following goals:
1.  Reduction by 2035.  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the municipal fleet of 
light-duty motor vehicles used for utility services or for public transportation by 75% by 
2035; and
2.  Transition by 2040.  Transition 100% of the municipal fleet of light-duty motor 
vehicles used for utility services or for public transportation to zero-emission vehicles by 
2040.
For purposes of this section, "light-duty motor vehicle" means any vehicle with a gross 
vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds.
Sec. 6.  Working group convened.  The Governor's Energy Office, as established 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 2, section 9, shall convene an interagency working 
group, referred to in this section as "the working group," to develop a plan to transition 
publicly owned vehicles, including motor vehicles used for utility services, public 
transportation and public school transportation, to 100% zero-emissions fleets by 2040.  
The working group must, at a minimum, consist of representatives from the Department of 
Education, the Department of Transportation, the Maine Turnpike Authority, the Public 
Utilities Commission, the Efficiency Maine Trust and the transportation working group of 
the Maine Climate Council.
1.  Duties.  In developing the plan, the working group shall:
A.  Review different types of zero-emission vehicles and very low-emission vehicles 
and the benefits and challenges associated with the different technologies, including, 
but not limited to, electric vehicles using lithium ion, molten salt, nickel metal hydride 
and lithium sulphur batteries; vehicles using hydrogen fuel cells or propane; and hybrid 
vehicles;
B.  Review options for financing the acquisition of electric or other zero-emission 
vehicles in a cost-effective manner for the State;
C.  Engage electric utilities and other private entities that have an interest in partnering 
with the State to acquire electric or other zero-emission vehicles;
D.  Review what capacity electric vehicles have to support the modernization of 
Maine's electric grid through so-called vehicle-to-grid technology;
E.  Assess the need for legislative and rule changes to effectuate transition to a zero-
emission vehicle fleets by 2040; and
F.  Assess the need for training and education that the State will require to maintain 
zero-emission vehicles.
2. Report.  The working group shall submit its plan and report with findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters no later than December 7, 2022.  
Following receipt and review of the report, the committee may submit a bill concerning the 
subject matter of the report to the First Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes goals and timetables for the State, counties and municipalities to 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty motor vehicles, motor vehicles used for 
utility services, motor vehicles used for public transportation and motor vehicles used for 
public school transportation by 75% by 2035 and achieve 100% zero-emission fleets by 
2040.  It also directs the Governor's Energy Office to convene an interagency working 
group to develop a plan to achieve the transition to zero-emission fleets and sets out specific 
duties for that working group.