An Act To Implement the Most Time-sensitive Recommendations of the Maine Climate Council
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1429
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: DUNPHY, BLUME, GEIGER, GROHOSKI, RIELLY, ZEIGLER, HICKMAN, VITELLI
Amends: 7 MRSA §212, 7 MRSA §213-A, 7 MRSA §215-B, 12 MRSA §1809, 20-A MRSA §6602, 35-A MRSA §3210, 35-A MRSA §10103, 36 MRSA §572

Legislative Document
No. 1429
H.P. 1045
House of Representatives, April 12, 2021
An Act To Implement the Most Time-sensitive Recommendations of 
the Maine Climate Council
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 8, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant 
to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DUNPHY of Old Town.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BLUME of York, GEIGER of Rockland, GROHOSKI of 
Ellsworth, RIELLY of Westbrook, ZEIGLER of Montville, Senators: HICKMAN of 
Kennebec, VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §212, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A.  Minimally processed.  "Minimally processed" means, with respect to food items, 
processed only by washing, cleaning, trimming, drying, sorting, freezing or packaging or 
by a combination of those activities.
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §213-A is enacted to read:
§213-A.  School food purchases
Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school administrative unit, as defined 
in Title 20-A, section 1, subsection 26, shall expend a minimum of 10% of the total it 
expends on school food purchases on purchases from Maine food producers. Beginning 
with the 2024-2025 school year, each school administrative unit shall expend a minimum 
of 20% of the total it expends on school food purchases on purchases from Maine food 
producers. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each school administrative unit shall 
expend a minimum of 30% of the total it expends on school food purchases on purchases 
from Maine food producers.
Sec. 3.  7 MRSA §215-B is enacted to read:
§215-B.  Maine Farm and Fish to School Program
1.  Program established.  The Maine Farm and Fish to School Program, referred to in 
this section as "the program," is established within the department to promote, market and 
facilitate the sale of food grown or raised and fish raised or caught by Maine food producers 
to elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary educational institutions. The 
commissioner shall administer the program in consultation with the Department of 
Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease 
Control and Prevention. For the purposes of this section, "departments" means collectively 
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Department of Education 
and the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
2.  Program objectives.  To implement the program, the departments shall share 
information and work collaboratively with the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council 
established under section 242 to:
A.  Develop, implement and support school food procurement strategies that recognize 
the benefits of, and result in, increased purchasing from Maine food producers;
B.  Provide or coordinate technical assistance and training to school personnel as 
needed to facilitate meal preparation using whole, fresh and minimally processed foods 
from Maine food producers;
C.  Connect Maine food producers with state and local purchasers and maintain an 
interactive website created for this purpose; and
D.  Maximize funding received under the National School Lunch Program under 7 
Code of Federal Regulations, Part 210 (2007) and the federal School Breakfast 
Program under 7 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 220 (2007).
3.  Farm and Fish to School Fund established.  The Farm and Fish to School Fund, 
referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund within the 
department. The commissioner may accept funds from public and private sources for 
deposit in the fund. The fund must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds 
and accounts.  The fund may be used:
A.  To support activities of the departments to advance program objectives under 
subsection 2;
B.  To contract for services to advance program objectives under subsection 2; and
C.  To fund planning and implementation grants to schools and Maine food producers 
under subsection 4.
4.  Grants.  The commissioner, upon the recommendation of and with the assistance 
of the Department of Education, shall provide grants from the fund to school administrative 
units, as defined in Title 20-A, section 1, subsection 26, to support nutrition education 
programs and purchases from Maine food producers for school lunch and breakfast 
programs. The commissioner shall award grants to Maine food producers to support the 
aggregation, packaging, storage and transportation of their products to school 
administrative units.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §1809 is enacted to read:
§1809.  Statewide inventory of carbon stocks established
By March 15, 2022 and every 5 years thereafter, the department, in coordination with 
the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Marine Resources, 
shall conduct a comprehensive, statewide inventory of the capacity of natural systems on 
land and in coastal and marine ecosystems to sequester or release carbon in a manner that 
will allow estimates of potential state carbon sequestration levels as well as changes in 
those levels over time and thereby allow the State to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.
1.  Farm and open space.  By March 15, 2023 and every 2 years thereafter, the 
department shall, based on the inventory, determine the changes in the levels of carbon 
sequestration resulting from participation in the farm and open space tax program under 
Title 36, chapter 105, subchapter 10.  By April 15, 2024 and annually thereafter, the 
department shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over environmental matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over taxation matters on the effects of the farm and open space tax 
program on carbon sequestration, including recommendations for proposed changes to that 
program.
2.  Tree growth.  By March 15, 2023 and every 2 years thereafter, the department 
shall, based on the inventory, determine the changes in the levels of carbon sequestration 
resulting from participation in the tree growth tax law under Title 36, chapter 105, 
subchapter 2-A.  By April 15, 2024 and annually thereafter, the department shall report to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environmental 
matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
taxation matters on the effects of the tree growth tax program on carbon sequestration, 
including recommendations for proposed changes to that program, if any, to further the 
Legislature's goal of achieving carbon neutrality under this section.
Sec. 5.  20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§12, as amended by PL 2019, c. 511, §1 and 
affected by §2, is further amended to read:
12.  Local Produce Food Procurement Fund.  The Local Produce Food Procurement 
Fund is established within the department.  The fund is authorized to receive revenue from 
public and private sources.  The fund must be held separate and apart from all other money, 
funds and accounts.  Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year must 
be carried forward to the next fiscal year.  The fund must be used to match $1 for every $3 
a school administrative unit pays for produce, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products or minimally 
processed foods purchased directly from a farmer, or a farmers' cooperative, a person who 
fishes commercially or a cooperative of persons who fish commercially or local food hub 
in the State, to a maximum state contribution of $1,000 per school administrative unit in 
fiscal year 2019-20 and $1,500 per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2020-21 and 
subsequent years or $2,000 per school administrative unit if funding is received and the 
school administrative unit sends a food service employee to local foods training 
administered by the department under subsection 13.  A school administrative unit shall 
provide the department with an invoice for each month that funding is sought.  At the end 
of the fiscal year, the school administrative unit may shall provide the department with 
receipts documenting purchases pursuant to this subsection during that year.  For purposes 
of this subsection, "minimally processed" means only the washing, cleaning, trimming, 
drying, sorting, freezing and packaging of food items or a combination of those activities.  
Reimbursement or partial reimbursement to school administrative units may only be made 
up to the amount available in the fund.  Failure to reimburse does not constitute an 
obligation on behalf of the State to a school administrative unit.  The department shall apply 
for federal grant funding to provide state contributions in excess of $1,000 per school 
administrative unit in fiscal year 2019-20 and $1,500 per school administrative unit in fiscal 
year 2020-21 and subsequent years pursuant to this subsection if applicable grant funding 
is available.  The department may accept grant funding from hospitals and other sources to 
provide state contributions in excess of $1,000 per school administrative unit in fiscal year 
2019-20 and $1,500 per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2020-21 and subsequent 
years pursuant to this subsection.
Sec. 6.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§3-A, as amended by PL 2019, c. 477, §1, is 
further amended to read:
3-A.  Portfolio requirements; Class I resources.  Portfolio requirements for Class I 
resources are governed by this subsection.
A.  Except as provided in paragraph B, beginning Beginning January 1, 2008, as a 
condition of licensing pursuant to section 3203, each competitive electricity provider 
in this State must demonstrate in a manner satisfactory to the commission that the 
percentage of its portfolio of supply sources for retail electricity sales in this State 
accounted for by  Class I resources is as follows:
(1)  One percent for the period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008;
(2)  Two percent for the period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009;
(3)  Three percent for the period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010;
(4)  Four percent for the period from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011;
(5)  Five percent for the period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012;
(6)  Six percent for the period from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013;
(7)  Seven percent for the period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014;
(8)  Eight percent for the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015;
(9)  Nine percent for the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016; and
(10)  Ten percent for the period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2022 and 
each year thereafter.
Class I resources used to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph may not be used to 
satisfy the requirements of subsection 3 or 3-B.
B.  Suspensions of scheduled increases in the portfolio requirements as provided in 
paragraph A are governed by this paragraph.
(1)  If by March 31st of the years 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 the commission 
determines that investment in Class I resources in the preceding 2 calendar years 
has not been sufficient for competitive electricity providers to meet the portfolio 
requirements under paragraph A and that the resulting use of renewable energy 
credits pursuant to subsection 8 or the alternative compliance payment mechanism 
pursuant to subsection 9, or both of these methods, has burdened electricity 
customers in the State without providing the benefits of Class I resources, the 
commission may suspend all or some of the future scheduled increases in the 
portfolio requirements under paragraph A.
(2)  If the commission finds that alternative compliance payments are made 
pursuant to subsection 9 in 3 consecutive calendar years, the commission shall 
temporarily suspend all or some of the future scheduled increases in the portfolio 
requirements under paragraph A.
(3)  If the commission suspends any scheduled increases in the portfolio 
requirements under paragraph A pursuant to subparagraph (1) or (2), the 
commission may resume increases, limited to no more than one percentage point 
per year over the previous year, in the portfolio requirements after a minimum of 
one year.
C.  No later than March 31, 2008 and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit 
a report regarding the status of  Class I resources in the State and compliance with the 
portfolio requirements under paragraph A to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters. The report must 
include, but is not limited to, a description of Class I resources available to meet the 
portfolio requirements under paragraph A, documentation of the loss of any existing 
renewable generation capacity in the State, the status of implementation of the portfolio 
requirements under paragraph A, including any suspensions pursuant to paragraph B, 
and recommendations to stimulate investment in Class I resources.
D.  Retail electricity sales pursuant to a supply contract or standard-offer service 
arrangement executed by a competitive electricity provider that is in effect on the 
effective date of this subsection is exempt from the requirements of this subsection 
until the end date of the current term of the supply contract or standard-offer service 
arrangement.
The commission shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted under this 
subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 7.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§3-B, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 477, §1, is 
amended to read:
3-B.  Portfolio requirements; Class IA resources.  Portfolio requirements for Class 
IA resources are governed by this subsection.
A.  Except as provided in paragraph B, beginning Beginning January 1, 2020, as a 
condition of licensing pursuant to section 3203, each competitive electricity provider 
in this State must demonstrate in a manner satisfactory to the commission that the 
percentage of its portfolio of supply sources for retail electricity sales in this State, 
other than to customers who have made an election pursuant to subsection 10 that is in 
effect with respect to this subsection, accounted for by Class IA resources is as follows:
(1)  Two and one-half percent for the period from January 1, 2020 to December 
31, 2020;
(2)  Five percent for the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021;
(3)  Eight percent for the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022;
(4)  Eleven percent for the period from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023;
(5)  Fifteen percent for the period from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024;
(6)  Nineteen percent for the period from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025;
(7)  Twenty-three percent for the period from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 
2026;
(8)  Twenty-seven percent for the period from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 
2027;
(9)  Thirty-one percent for the period from January 1, 2028 to December 31, 2028;
(10)  Thirty-five percent for the period from January 1, 2029 to December 31, 2029; 
and
(11)  Forty percent for the period from January 1, 2030 to December 31, 2030 and 
each year thereafter.
Class IA resources used to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph may not be used 
to satisfy the requirements of subsection 3 or 3‑A.
B.  Suspensions of scheduled increases in the portfolio requirements as provided in 
paragraph A are governed by this paragraph.
(1)  If by March 31st of the year 2022 and every 2 years thereafter the commission 
determines that investment in Class IA resources in the preceding 2 calendar years 
has not been sufficient for competitive electricity providers to meet the portfolio 
requirements under paragraph A and that the resulting use of renewable energy 
credits pursuant to subsection 8 or the alternative compliance payment mechanism 
pursuant to subsection 9, or both of these methods, has burdened electricity 
customers in the State without providing the benefits of new Class IA resources, 
the commission may suspend all or some of the future scheduled increases in the 
portfolio requirements under paragraph A.
(2)  If the commission finds that more than 10% of the obligations required to 
satisfy the portfolio requirements for Class IA resources under paragraph A are 
met through alternative compliance payments made pursuant to subsection 9 in 3 
consecutive calendar years, the commission shall temporarily suspend all or some 
of the future scheduled increases in the portfolio requirements under paragraph A.
(3)  If the commission suspends any scheduled increases in the portfolio 
requirements under paragraph A pursuant to subparagraph (1) or (2), the 
commission shall report its rationale for suspension to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy and utilities matters, the 
Governor's Energy Office and the Office of the Public Advocate and make 
recommendations for modifications to the schedule of increases. The commission 
may resume increases, limited to no more than one percentage point per year over 
the previous year, in the portfolio requirements after a minimum of one year unless 
otherwise directed by the Legislature.
C.  No later than March 31, 2021 and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit 
a report regarding the status of Class IA resources in the State and compliance with the 
portfolio requirements under paragraph A to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters. The report must 
include, but is not limited to, a description of Class IA resources available to meet the 
portfolio requirements under paragraph A, documentation of the loss of any existing 
renewable generation capacity in the State, the status of implementation of the portfolio 
requirements under paragraph A, including any suspensions pursuant to paragraph B, 
and recommendations to stimulate investment in Class IA resources. If the commission 
has reliable information about benefits and costs of the portfolio requirements under 
paragraph A, over both the short and long terms with respect to the State's economy, 
environmental quality or electricity consumers, the commission shall include that 
information in the report.  The report required under this paragraph may be submitted 
in conjunction with the report required under subsection 3‑A, paragraph C.
D.  Retail electricity sales pursuant to a supply contract or standard-offer service 
arrangement executed by a competitive electricity provider that is in effect on the 
effective date of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of this subsection 
until the end date of the existing term of the supply contract or standard-offer service 
arrangement.
The commission shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted under this 
subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 8.  35-A MRSA §10103, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2019, c. 306, §2, is further 
amended to read:
4.  Program funding.  The board may apply for and receive grants from municipal, 
state, federal and private sources for deposit into appropriate program funds, including 
funds for both residential and business programs. The board may deposit in appropriate 
program funds the proceeds of any bonds issued for the purposes of programs administered 
by the trust.  The board may receive and shall deposit in appropriate program funds revenue 
resulting from any forward capacity market or other capacity payments from the regional 
transmission organization that may be attributable to those projects funded by those funds, 
except that, from fiscal year 2019-20 to fiscal year 2024-25 2029-30, such payments must 
be used to promote high-performance air source heat pump technology and deposited in 
the Heating Fuels Efficiency and Weatherization Fund established in section 10119.  The 
board shall deposit into appropriate program funds revenue transferred to the trust from the 
energy infrastructure benefits fund pursuant to Title 5, section 282, subsection 9 for use in 
accordance with subsection 4‑A. The board may also deposit any grants or other funds 
received by or from any entity with which the trust has an agreement or contract pursuant 
to this chapter if the board determines that receipt of those funds is consistent with the 
purposes of this chapter.
Sec. 9.  36 MRSA §572, 2nd ¶, as enacted by PL 1971, c. 616, §8, is amended to 
read:
It is declared to be the public policy of this State that the public interest would be best 
served by encouraging forest landowners to retain and improve their holdings of forest 
lands upon the tax rolls of the State and to promote better forest management by appropriate 
tax measures in order to protect this unique economic and recreational resource.  It is further 
declared that it is in the public interest to encourage the increased sequestration of carbon 
in this State.
Sec. 10.  36 MRSA c. 919-B is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 919-B
FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION FUEL EFFICIENCY CREDIT
§6911.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1.  Certified applicant.  "Certified applicant" means a qualified applicant that has 
received a certificate of approval from the commissioner pursuant to this chapter.
2.  Commissioner.  "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Transportation.
3.  Qualified applicant.  "Qualified applicant" means a commercial business that 
participates in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay program.
§6912.  Procedures for application; certificate of approval
1.  Application.  A qualified applicant may apply to the commissioner for a certificate 
of approval for a tax credit under this chapter. Applicants shall submit to the commissioner 
information demonstrating that the applicant is a qualified applicant.  In issuing certificates 
of approval, the commissioner shall ensure that no certified applicant holds more than one 
certificate of approval at any time.
2.  Determination by commissioner.  The commissioner, within 30 days of receipt of 
an application, shall review the information contained in the application and issue a written 
determination as to whether the applicant is a qualified applicant.  If the commissioner 
determines that the applicant is a qualified applicant and currently holds no certificate of 
approval under this chapter, the commissioner shall issue a certificate of approval to the 
qualified applicant at the time of the determination. If the commissioner determines that 
the applicant is not a qualified applicant, the commissioner shall issue a denial of the 
application at the time of the determination.
3.  Memorandum of agreement.  Upon issuance of a certificate of approval to a 
qualified applicant, the commissioner shall enter into an agreement on behalf of the State 
with the certified applicant.  The agreement must provide that the State shall allow the 
credit provided for in this chapter as it is in effect on the date the certificate of approval is 
issued for as long as the applicant qualifies for the credit provided for in this chapter on the 
date the certificate of approval is issued.
4.  Transfer of certificate.  If a certified applicant proposes to transfer, including, 
without limitation, transfer by operation of law, all or substantially all of its business 
interest to another person, that person may apply to the commissioner to approve transfer 
of the certificate of approval to the person. If the commissioner grants a transfer of the 
certificate of approval, the transferee must be treated as the certified applicant for all 
purposes of this chapter.
§6913.  Credit against withholding taxes allowed
1.  Generally.  Subject to the provisions of subsection 2 and notwithstanding any 
provision of chapter 827 to the contrary, a certified applicant is allowed a credit of up to 
$2,000 for each calendar year, beginning with the 2022 calendar year, against up to $2,000 
that otherwise would be required to be remitted to the State Tax Assessor on or after July 
1st of each calendar year by the certified applicant pursuant to chapter 827 for state income 
taxes deducted and withheld from wages of qualified employees as defined in section 6851, 
subsection 8 by the certified applicant. The credit taken with respect to withholding taxes 
not remitted must be reflected on the withholding returns submitted by the certified 
applicant pursuant to chapter 827 and constitutes a credit against the applicant's liability 
for and obligation to remit the withholding tax against which the credit is taken.
2.  Limitations.  Limitations on the credit allowed under subsection 1 are governed by 
this subsection. 
A.  A credit is not allowed for any calendar year beginning before January 1, 2022.
B.  Total credits under this section may not exceed $2,000 to any certified applicant or 
transferee under section 6912, subsection 4.
3.  Effect on employee.  Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 827 to the contrary, 
the amount of income tax deducted and withheld by a certified applicant from the wages 
of a person pursuant to chapter 827 in any calendar year is considered paid to the State Tax 
Assessor on behalf of the person from whom the income tax was withheld without regard 
to any credit taken by a certified applicant under this chapter, and that person is credited 
with having paid that amount of tax for the taxable year beginning in the calendar year 
without regard to any credit taken by a certified applicant under this chapter. If more than 
one taxable year begins in a calendar year, that person may claim that amount as a credit 
for the most recent taxable year.
§6914.  Reporting required
1.  Annual reporting by certified applicant.  On or before March 1st of each year, a 
certified applicant shall file a report with the State Tax Assessor and the commissioner for 
the immediately preceding calendar year, referred to in this section as "the report year," 
containing a description of improvements made in the conduct of business of the certified 
applicant for the calendar year immediately preceding the report year.
The State Tax Assessor may prescribe forms for the annual reports described in this section.
2.  Audit of report.  The State Tax Assessor has the authority to audit any report or 
return filed under this chapter or chapter 827 to ensure the certified applicant was eligible 
for the credit claimed by the certified applicant. If the certified applicant has claimed a 
credit in an amount that the State Tax Assessor concludes exceeded the amount that the 
certified applicant was entitled to claim for that calendar year, the State Tax Assessor shall 
issue an assessment for that amount within 3 years after the date of the certified applicant's 
last withholding return on which the credit for that calendar year was claimed. A certified 
applicant may seek reconsideration of any determination or assessment pursuant to section 
151.
3.  Report to Legislature.  The State Tax Assessor shall report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over taxation matters aggregate data on 
qualified applicant participation in the program. The report must be made during the first 
regular session of each Legislature beginning with the 132nd Legislature.
Sec. 11.  Farm-to-school efforts.  The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry, the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Health and Human 
Services shall determine how to best implement the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 
215-B and Title 20-A, section 6602, subsection 12 in compliance with the United States 
Child Nutrition WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Public Law 108-265, Section 204, 
adopted June 30, 2004.
The commissioners, using any existing authority, shall adopt or revise rules and agency 
policies to support the State's food policy and the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom 
Council established in Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 4-C.
Sec. 12.  Forest carbon program.  By January 1, 2022, the Governor's Energy 
Office, in coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection and the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and in collaboration with 
appropriate stakeholders, shall develop a voluntary, incentive-based forest carbon program 
for forest managers and owners of forested land of 10 to 10,000 acres. The Governor's 
Energy Office shall report on the results of these efforts together with any 
recommendations for legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on the Environment and 
Natural Resources by January 1, 2022.
Sec. 13.  Technical service.  To the extent resources allow, the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Forest Service, the Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the University of Maine 
System shall, by January 1, 2022, seek to increase their technical service capacity to deliver 
data, expert guidance and support to communities, landowners, farmers, loggers and 
foresters for activities that will support the State's climate goals.
Sec. 14.  Public awareness.  The Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the 
Future shall launch a multifaceted, ongoing communications effort based on the state 
climate action plan issued by the Maine Climate Council in 2020 to raise public awareness 
and understanding about climate change in Maine, the State's climate response actions and 
climate-related programs and opportunities.
Sec. 15.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Land for Maine's Future Z162
Initiative:  Provides funds to leverage matching contributions from public and private 
sources to be used for the acquisition of land and interest in land for conservation; water 
access; wildlife or fish habitat including deer wintering areas; outdoor recreation, including 
hunting and fishing; and working farmland preservation and working waterfront 
preservation.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND 
FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2021-22
2022-23
GENERAL FUND
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
CONNECTMAINE AUTHORITY
ConnectMaine Fund Z294
Initiative:  Provides ongoing funding to broadband infrastructure grant programs for 
expansion in rural areas.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$400,000
$400,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$400,000
$400,000
CONNECTMAINE AUTHORITY
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2021-22
2022-23
GENERAL FUND
$400,000
$400,000
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$400,000
$400,000
EFFICIENCY MAINE TRUST
Efficiency Maine Trust  Z100
Initiative:  Provides ongoing funding to the Electric Vehicle Accelerator Program 
administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
Heating Fuels Efficiency and Weatherization Fund  Z103
Initiative:  Provides ongoing funding to the home and business weatherization rebate and 
incentive programs administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$485,800
$485,800
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$485,800
$485,800
Heating Fuels Efficiency and Weatherization Fund  Z103
Initiative:  Provides ongoing funding to the heat pump rebate and incentive programs 
administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$905,000
$905,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$905,000
$905,000
EFFICIENCY MAINE TRUST
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2021-22
2022-23
GENERAL FUND
$2,890,800
$2,890,800
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$2,890,800
$2,890,800
TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Multimodal – Transit 0443
Initiative:  Provides funding to relaunch GO MAINE, a ride matching program 
administered by the Maine Turnpike Authority, in order to significantly increase shared 
public commuting options by 2022.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$225,000
$225,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$225,000
$225,000
Multimodal – Transit 0443
Initiative:  Provides funding for the expansion of public transportation options and building 
upon the programs established in the Department of Transportation's 2019 Transit Plan in 
order to meet the Maine Climate Council's recommendation that the State's public 
transportation funding reach the national median of $5 per capita by 2024.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$400,000
$400,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$400,000
$400,000
TRANSPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2021-22
2022-23
GENERAL FUND
$625,000
$625,000
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$625,000
$625,000
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
University of Maine Cooperative Extension N352
Initiative:  Provides funding to establish the University of Maine System as the 
coordinating hub for innovation of new technologies that will support Maine industries as 
they transition into a new economy.  Funds will support the ability of Maine's natural 
resource economies to adapt to climate change impacts and take advantage of new market 
opportunities in Maine's forest products industry by using the most up-to-date research on 
forestry, agriculture and natural land-related climate concerns, including research and 
development of climate-friendly bio-based wood market innovation and research around 
climate-friendly agricultural practices.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$250,000
$250,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$250,000
$250,000
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF 
TRUSTEES OF THE
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2021-22
2022-23
GENERAL FUND
$250,000
$250,000
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$250,000
$250,000
SECTION TOTALS
2021-22
2022-23
GENERAL FUND
$11,665,800
$11,665,800
__________
__________
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$11,665,800
$11,665,800
SUMMARY
This bill:
1.  Requires school administrative units over time to purchase increasing amounts of 
local Maine food;
2.  Establishes the Maine Farm and Fish to School Program to promote, market and 
facilitate the sale of food grown or raised and fish raised or caught by Maine food producers 
to elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary educational institutions;
3.  Requires the State to conduct a comprehensive, statewide inventory of the capacity 
of natural systems on land and in coastal and marine ecosystems to sequester or release 
carbon in a manner that will allow estimates of potential state carbon sequestration levels 
as well as changes in those levels over time and thereby allow the State to achieve carbon 
neutrality;
4.  Expands the Local Produce Fund to include meat, fish, eggs and dairy products and 
changes its name to the Local Food Procurement Fund;
5.  Repeals provisions allowing the Public Utilities Commission to suspend scheduled 
increases in the renewable portfolio requirements when the commission makes certain 
findings about the requirements;
6.  Extends to fiscal year 2029-30 the funding from any forward capacity electricity 
market or other capacity payments from the regional transmission organization that may be 
used by the Efficiency Maine Trust to promote high-performance air source heat pump 
technology.  Currently this funding ends fiscal year 2024-25; the bill extends the funding 
to fiscal year 2029-30;
7.  Adds to the tree growth tax program a declaration that it is in the public interest to 
encourage the increased sequestration of carbon in this State;
8.  Creates a fuel efficiency tax credit for commercial businesses in the freight 
transportation supply chain that participate in the United States Environmental Protection 
Agency's SmartWay program;
9.  Directs the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the 
Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to 
determine how best to comply with the United States Child Nutrition WIC Reauthorization 
Act of 2004, Public Law 108-265, Section 204, adopted June 30, 2004 in implementing 
related requirements of the bill;
10.  Directs the Governor's Energy Office to develop a voluntary, incentive-based 
forest carbon program;
11.  Directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Forest 
Service, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine 
Resources and the University of Maine System to seek to increase their technical service 
capacity to deliver data, expert guidance and support to communities, landowners, farmers, 
loggers and foresters for activities that will support the State's climate goals; 
12.  Directs the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to launch a 
multifaceted, ongoing communications effort based on the state climate action plan issued 
by the Maine Climate Council on December 1, 2020 to raise public awareness and 
understanding about climate change in Maine, the State's climate response actions and 
climate-related programs and opportunities;
13.  Provides $1,500,000 in ongoing funds to the Electric Vehicle Accelerator Program;
14.  Provides $400,000 per year funding to broadband infrastructure grant programs 
for expansion in rural areas;
15.  Provides $400,000 per year funding for expansion of public transportation options 
and building upon the programs established in the Department of Transportation's 2019 
transit plan in order to meet the Maine Climate Council's recommendation that the State's 
public transportation funding reach the national median of $5 per capita by 2024;
16.  Provides $225,000 per year to relaunch GO MAINE, a ride matching program 
administered by the Maine Turnpike Authority, in order to significantly increase shared 
public commuting options by 2022;
17.  Provides $905,000 in ongoing funding to the heat pump rebate and incentive 
programs administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust;
18.  Provides $485,800 in ongoing funds to the current home and business 
weatherization rebate and incentive programs administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust;
19.  Provides $250,000 per year funding to establish the University of Maine System 
as the coordinating hub for innovation of new technologies that will support Maine 
industries as they transition into a new economy. Funds will support the ability of Maine's 
natural resource economies to adapt to climate change impacts and take advantage of new 
market opportunities in Maine's forest products industry by using the most up-to-date 
research on forestry, agriculture and natural land-related climate concerns, including 
research and development of climate-friendly bio-based wood market innovation and 
research around climate-friendly agricultural practices; and
20.  Provides $7,500,000 per year funding to the Land for Maine's Future Board to 
leverage matching contributions from public and private sources to be used for the 
acquisition of land and interest in land for conservation; water access; wildlife or fish 
habitat including deer wintering areas; outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing; 
and working farmland preservation and working waterfront preservation.