An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1895
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: LAWRENCE, GERE, BRENNER, CURRY, JACKSON, VITELLI, DOUDERA, GEIGER, MASTRACCIO, RUNTE
Amends: 12 MRSA §1862, 12 MRSA §1863, 12 MRSA §1863-A, 26 MRSA §1304, 35-A MRSA §3401-A, 35-A MRSA §3404, 35-A MRSA §3406, 35-A MRSA §3407, 35-A MRSA §3408, 35-A MRSA §3409

Legislative Document
No. 1895
S.P. 766
In Senate, May 4, 2023
An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind 
Resources
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 Representative GERE of Kennebunkport and
Senators: BRENNER of Cumberland, CURRY of Waldo, President JACKSON of Aroostook, 
VITELLI of Sagadahoc, Representatives: DOUDERA of Camden, GEIGER of Rockland, 
MASTRACCIO of Sanford, RUNTE of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §1862, sub-§13, ¶B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24, 
is further amended by enacting a new subparagraph (10) to read:
(10)  If the application for a lease or easement submitted in connection with an 
offshore wind power project, as defined in Title 35-A, section 3401-A, subsection 
8, is selected for a contract in accordance with Title 35-A, section 3408, subsection 
1, the following requirements apply.
(a)  The director shall charge an annual operating fee to any lessee, permittee 
or grantee of an easement based on the electricity generated in connection with 
the use of such lease, permit or easement for the use of submerged lands owned 
by the State in connection with an offshore wind power project. The bureau 
shall adopt routine technical rules to establish the annual operating fee using 
the formula set out in 30 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 585.506, using 
the factor of .01 for the operating fee rate. A fee required in accordance with 
this division is in addition to any rent that may be required under this Title.
(b)  The applicant must demonstrate that it has fully executed or will execute 
a labor peace agreement, as defined in Title 35-A, section 3401-A, subsection 
6, with a bona fide labor organization that actively represents or seeks to 
represent employees working for and providing services in connection with the 
offshore wind power project.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §1863, sub-§2, ¶A is enacted to read:
A.  When the fund expends money for the purpose of constructing improvements in 
connection with an offshore wind power project, as defined in Title 35-A, section 
3401-A, subsection 8, selected for a contract in accordance with Title 35-A, section 
3408, subsection 1, the grant of any such funds must be conditioned upon the recipient's 
agreement to conform to the requirements applicable to assisted projects under Title 
26, chapter 15.
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §1863-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. KK, §12 and 
affected by §34, is further amended to read:
§1863-A.  Renewable Ocean Energy Trust
1.  Trust established.  The Renewable Ocean Energy Trust, referred to in this section 
as "the trust," is established as a nonlapsing, dedicated fund to be used to protect and 
enhance the integrity of public trust-related resources in the Gulf of Maine and related 
human uses of the State's submerged lands.
2.  Administration.  The Treasurer of State shall administer the trust as provided in 
this section.
3.  Sources of funds.  The following funds must be transferred on receipt to the 
Treasurer of State for deposit in the trust:
A.  Eighty percent of the submerged lands leasing rental payments for renewable ocean 
energy projects under section 1862, subsection 13 and offshore wind energy 
demonstration projects and tidal energy demonstration projects for which a general 
permit has been issued under Title 38, section 480‑HH or Title 38, section 636‑A, 
respectively; and
B.  The State's share, pursuant to 43 United States Code, Section 1337(p)(2)(B), of 
federal revenues from alternative energy leasing.; and
C.  All funds collected under Title 35-A, section 3408, subsection 2, paragraph F.
4.  Disbursement of funds; required uses.  The Treasurer of State shall annually 
disburse the funds in the trust for credit to the Ocean Energy Fund established within the 
Department of Marine Resources, in consultation with the Marine Resources Advisory 
Council established under section 6024, for use as follows:
A.  Fifty percent to fund research, monitoring, conservation and other efforts to avoid, 
minimize and compensate for potential adverse effects of renewable ocean energy 
projects, as defined in section 1862, subsection 1, paragraph F‑1, on noncommercial 
fisheries, seabirds, marine mammals, shorebirds, migratory birds and other coastal and 
marine natural resources, including but not limited to development, enhancement and 
maintenance of map-based information resources developed to guide public and private 
decision making on siting issues and, field research to provide baseline or other data to 
address siting issues presented by renewable ocean energy projects and contributions 
to regional and national research efforts and conservation projects that strengthen the 
resiliency of species that are most vulnerable to impacts from renewable ocean energy 
projects.  The department shall consult with the advisory board of the Offshore Wind 
Research Consortium, established pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3406, subsection 2, 
and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in allocating funds it receives 
pursuant to this paragraph; and
B.  Fifty percent to fund resource enhancement, research on fish behavior and species 
abundance and distribution and other issues and other efforts to avoid, minimize and 
compensate for potential adverse effects of renewable ocean energy projects, as defined 
in section 1862, subsection 1, paragraph F‑1, on commercial fishing and related 
activities. The department shall consult with the advisory board of the Offshore Wind 
Research Consortium, established pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3406, subsection 2, 
in allocating funds it receives pursuant to this paragraph.
Sec. 4.  26 MRSA §1304, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 705, §2, is amended 
by enacting a new first blocked paragraph to read:
"Assisted project" includes any construction project that receives funding under Title 12, 
section 1863, subsection 2, paragraph A.
Sec. 5.  35-A MRSA §3401-A is enacted to read:
§3401-A.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1. Certified business. "Certified business" means a business that has been certified by 
the federal Small Business Administration or another appropriate entity, as determined by 
the commission by rule, as a minority-owned, veteran-owned or women-owned business.  
2. Environmental justice population. "Environmental justice population" means a 
group of people who, because of race, color, national origin or income, are specially 
affected by the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, 
rules and policies, as determined by the commission by rule. Rules adopted under this 
subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
3. Extraterritorial wind project. "Extraterritorial wind project" means a project to 
develop an offshore wind power project located seaward of the State's territorial waters.
4. Floating extraterritorial wind project. "Floating extraterritorial wind project" 
means a floating offshore wind power project that is located seaward of territorial water.
5. Labor organization. "Labor organization" has the same meaning as section 3210-H, 
subsection 1, paragraph B.
6. Labor peace agreement. "Labor peace agreement" means an agreement between 
an employer and a labor organization in which the employer agrees to be neutral during a 
union organizing campaign and to not interfere with union organizing and the labor 
organization agrees not to engage in picketing, work stoppages, boycotts or other economic 
interference with the employer.
7. Nameplate capacity. "Nameplate capacity" has the same meaning as in section 
3481, subsection 11.
8. Offshore wind power project. "Offshore wind power project" has the same 
meaning as in section 3405, subsection 1, paragraph C.
9. Project labor agreement. "Project labor agreement" has the same meaning as in 
section 3210-H, subsection 1, paragraph C.
10. Responsible entity. "Responsible entity" means the person or business entity 
undertaking to develop an extraterritorial wind project.
Sec. 6.  35-A MRSA §3404, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Diversity, equity and inclusion plan required.  In accordance with the 
requirements of section 3408, subsection 4 and rules adopted in accordance with section 
3408, subsection 6, when conducting a solicitation for an offshore wind power project 
under section 3408, the commission shall require the submission of a diversity, equity and 
inclusion plan.
Sec. 7.  35-A MRSA §3406, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 407, §3, is amended 
to read:
1.  Offshore Wind Research Consortium.  The Offshore Wind Research Consortium 
is an initiative of the Governor's Energy Office, in collaboration with the Department of 
Marine Resources and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, to coordinate, 
support and arrange for the conduct of research on offshore wind power projects in the Gulf 
of Maine. The consortium shall:
A.  Assist the commission in the review of wildlife, fisheries and environmental 
mitigation plans for offshore wind energy procurement bids under section 3408;
B.  Provide recommendations for the use of the Renewable Ocean Energy Trust 
established under Title 12, section 1863-A for wildlife, habitat and environmental 
conservation, monitoring and research purposes; and
C.  Develop recommendations, using the best available science, for avoiding, 
minimizing or mitigating impacts to wildlife and the marine environment in the 
development and construction of offshore wind power projects, including appropriate 
preconstruction and postconstruction monitoring.
Sec. 8.  35-A MRSA §3406, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 407, §3, is amended 
to read:
2.  Advisory board.  The Governor's Energy Office, in consultation with independent 
scientific experts, shall establish an advisory board of the consortium to oversee the 
development and execution of a research strategy to better understand the local and regional 
impacts of floating offshore wind power projects in the Gulf of Maine.  The advisory board 
must include, but is not limited to, the following members:
A.  Two individuals from organizations that represent commercial lobster harvesting 
interests in the State;
B.  At least one individual from an organization that represents the interest of 
commercial fisheries other than lobster harvesting;
C.  The Commissioner of Marine Resources, or the commissioner's designee;
C-1.  The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, or the commissioner's 
designee;
D.  Two individuals, not represented by an organization, that represent the interests of 
the commercial lobster harvesting industry and commercial fisheries in the State; and
E.  One individual from the recreational charter fishing industry.;
F.  At least one individual with expertise related to marine mammals;
G.  At least one individual with experience related to benthic habitats;
H.  At least one individual with experience related to avian species; and
I.  At least one individual with expertise related to noncommercial fisheries.
The advisory board is subject to all applicable provisions of the Freedom of Access Act. 
The operation of the advisory board must be informed by the work of regional and national 
scientific entities.  The advisory board shall solicit input from stakeholders, including 
representatives of the fishing industry, state and federal agencies and scientific experts.
Sec. 9.  35-A MRSA §3407 is enacted to read:
§3407.  Maine Offshore Wind Renewable Energy and Economic Development 
Program
1. Program established. The Maine Offshore Wind Renewable Energy and Economic 
Development Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established within 
the commission to further the development and use of offshore wind energy resources in 
the Gulf of Maine. The commission shall administer the program in accordance with this 
section and shall ensure that the program is designed to advance the greenhouse gas 
reduction obligations and climate policies of the State under Title 38, section 576-A and 
section 577, subsection 1, the renewable energy goals established in section 3210, 
subsection 1-A and all applicable workforce development efforts of the State.   Under the 
program, the commission shall: 
A. Encourage the timely, responsible and collaborative development of renewable 
extraterritorial wind power projects in the Gulf of Maine to stabilize energy prices, 
reduce the State's reliance on imported fossil fuels and realize direct and near-term 
economic benefits for the people of the State;
B. Ensure that the State's offshore wind power projects generate revenue for the State 
and provide career opportunities with family-sustaining and community-enhancing 
wages and benefits across multiple industries and populations;
C. Establish standards for local hiring, workforce development and safety, including 
but not limited to:
(1) Recruiting traditionally underrepresented populations; and
(2) Developing registered apprenticeship programs and preapprenticeship training 
programs under Title 26, chapter 37 using clearly defined and industry-approved 
training structures; 
D. Promote diversity, equity and inclusion with particular consideration given to 
federally recognized Indian tribes and the State's environmental justice population;
E. Support responsibly sited and operated offshore wind power projects that avoid, 
minimize and compensate for impacts to wildlife, habitat and fisheries in the Gulf of 
Maine;
F. Monitor impacts to the marine environment and advance research to better 
understand how offshore wind power projects can coexist with minimal impact to 
existing ocean users, wildlife, fisheries and the marine environment;
G. Develop the transmission infrastructure necessary for the State to expeditiously 
meet its renewable energy and climate goals using offshore wind power projects 
located in the Gulf of Maine; 
H. Collaborate with other states' entities when appropriate on regional issues including, 
but not limited to, transmission and distribution infrastructure and energy procurement 
as well as research and monitoring relating to wildlife, fisheries and the Gulf of Maine 
ecosystem; and
I. Advance the renewable energy and climate policies and economic development goals 
of the State and help to reduce energy price volatility through the development of 
offshore wind power projects in the Gulf of Maine.
Sec. 10.  35-A MRSA §3408 is enacted to read:
§3408.  Offshore wind energy procurement
The commission shall direct investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to 
enter into one or more long-term contracts for floating extraterritorial wind projects under 
this section.
1. Competitive procurement for offshore wind energy. The commission shall 
conduct a series of phased competitive solicitations in accordance with this subsection in 
order to select floating extraterritorial wind projects for contracts under this section.
A. The commission shall establish a phased procurement schedule and shall initiate a 
first competitive solicitation under this subsection no later than June 1, 2025.
B. The phased procurement schedule for solicitation of floating extraterritorial wind 
projects must ensure that any subsequent solicitation occurs within 24 months of a 
previous solicitation.
C. Any solicitation under this subsection must seek proposals for floating 
extraterritorial wind projects with not less than 600 megawatts of aggregate nameplate 
capacity.
D. The commission shall ensure that solicitations under this subsection result in the 
approval of contracts for energy in the following amounts:
(1) By February 1, 2030, 1,000 megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity; and
(2) By February 1, 2035, 2,800 megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity.
E. The commission may approve contracts for amounts greater than those specified in 
paragraph D if the commission determines that the contracts are in the public interest.
F. If at the close of a competitive bidding process conducted under this subsection the 
commission determines that approval of proposals received is not in the public interest, 
the commission may reject all proposals received and may open a new competitive 
bidding process. 
G. Solicitations conducted by the commission under this subsection may be 
coordinated and issued jointly with other New England states or entities designated by 
those states. 
H. The commission shall make solicitations for proposals under this subsection 
available for public comment.
I. In conducting a solicitation and selecting floating extraterritorial wind projects for 
contracts under this section, the commission shall weigh the benefits to ratepayers and 
the benefits to the State's economy and natural resources as follows:
(1) A weight of 70% must be given to the benefits to ratepayers;
(2) A weight of 15% must be given to economic development and community 
benefits. These benefits must include, but are not limited to:
(a) Employment and contracting opportunities for residents of the State who 
are members of federally recognized Indian tribes or environmental justice 
populations or for certified businesses located in the State;
(b) Benefits to low-income ratepayers, as determined by the commission; and
(c) Negotiated workforce agreements including project labor agreements and 
labor peace agreements with labor organizations for manufacturing, 
construction, renovation, reconstruction, alteration, installation, demolition, 
expansion, maintenance and repair.
To assist in the evaluation of economic development and community benefits 
under this subparagraph, the commission shall develop a preconstruction 
stakeholder engagement process to solicit comments from and consult with 
federally recognized Indian tribes and environmental justice populations; and
(3) A weight of 15% must be given to natural resources benefits. These benefits 
must include, but are not limited to:
(a) Financial and technical assistance provided to support monitoring of 
environmental impacts of floating extraterritorial wind projects including but 
not limited to impacts on wildlife, fisheries and habitats;
(b) Contributions to regional and national research efforts to study 
environmental impacts of floating extraterritorial wind projects; and
(c) Processes developed by the floating extraterritorial wind project to 
minimize environmental impacts from the floating extraterritorial wind project 
and related transmission and interconnection infrastructure.
2. Bid requirements. The commission shall require that any floating extraterritorial 
wind project proposal include the following elements:
A. Mitigation plans for impacts on wildlife, fisheries and the marine environment as 
described in subsection 3;
B. A diversity, equity and inclusion plan, as described in subsection 4, which includes 
provisions for workforce diversity, supplier diversity and investor diversity;
C. A project labor agreement that conforms to the requirements of section 3210-H, 
subsection 2, including a description of how the project will supply construction 
workers in all crafts needed for the project, including both on-site work and off-site 
work;
D. A preconstruction stakeholder engagement plan including provisions for 
consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, environmental justice 
populations and commercial and recreational fishing industries;
E. A plan for consultation with federally recognized Indian tribes who may be impacted 
by the floating extraterritorial wind project; 
F. Payment by the responsible entity equal to $10,000 per megawatt of the floating 
extraterritorial wind project's nameplate capacity to the Renewable Ocean Energy Trust 
established within the Department of Marine Resources in accordance with Title 12, 
section 1863-A, subsection 1; and
G. Payment by the responsible entity equal to a minimum of $10,000 per megawatt of 
the floating extraterritorial wind project's nameplate capacity to the Justice Fund 
established in subsection 5.  
3. Wildlife, fisheries and environmental mitigation plan requirements. The 
wildlife, fisheries and marine environment mitigation plans required pursuant to subsection 
2, paragraph A must include, but are not limited to:
A. A detailed description of the management practices and any on-site or off-site 
mitigation the responsible entity will employ, informed by the latest science at the time 
the plan is made, to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to wildlife and habitats, 
including, but not limited to:
(1) Threatened or endangered species, such as North Atlantic right whales;
(2) Coastal and marine habitats;
(3) Natural resources;
(4) Ecosystems; and
(5) Traditional or existing water-dependent uses, including, but not limited to, 
commercial and recreational fishing; and
B. Provisions for preconstruction and postconstruction monitoring to understand the 
effects of the floating extraterritorial wind project and related activities on marine and 
avian species and fisheries.
The commission shall consult with the Offshore Wind Research Consortium under section 
3406, subsection 1 in evaluating a plan submitted in accordance with subsection 2, 
paragraph A.
4. Diversity, equity and inclusion plan requirements. The diversity, equity and 
inclusion plan required pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph B must describe the proposed 
floating extraterritorial wind project's proposed strategy to promote access to employment 
and contracting opportunities for, and to recruit, diverse vendors, contractors, workers and 
investors. The plan must describe the specific and measurable employment and contracting 
benefits created by the responsible entity, including by the floating extraterritorial wind 
project's subcontractors, and explain how the wind project will provide employment and 
contracting opportunities for people of color, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual 
and transgender people, women, veterans, Maine residents, members of federally 
recognized Indian tribes and existing workers in industries directly affected by the 
development of offshore wind power projects including, but not limited to, the fossil fuel 
and commercial fishing industries.
A. In evaluating a diversity, equity and inclusion plan, the commission shall consider, 
in addition to other criteria established by the commission:
(1) Whether the proposed floating extraterritorial wind project is likely to meet 
specific goals established by the commission for the utilization of certified 
businesses as contractors in the design and construction of the floating 
extraterritorial wind project and vendors in the provision of goods and services 
procured by the floating extraterritorial wind project;  
(2) The extent to which the plan provides for the hiring of members of 
environmental justice populations and federally recognized Indian tribes as 
employees in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the floating 
extraterritorial wind project;
(3) The extent to which the plan provides for hiring of workers in industries directly 
affected by the development of offshore wind power projects, including, but not 
limited to, the fossil fuel and commercial fishing industries, as employees in the 
design, construction, operation and maintenance of the floating extraterritorial 
wind project; 
(4) The participation of project contractors and subcontractors in a 
preapprenticeship training program and registered apprenticeship program under 
Title 26, chapter 37; and
(5) The extent to which the responsible entity has made good faith efforts to solicit 
and interview a reasonable number of minority investors. 
5. Justice Fund.  The Justice Fund, referred to in this subsection as "the fund," is 
established as a dedicated nonlapsing fund within the commission to provide grants and 
other financial assistance to support environmental justice populations, low-income 
transmission and distribution utility ratepayers and federally recognized Indian tribes in the 
State.  The commission, in consultation with the Public Advocate, the Department of 
Environmental Protection and the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, 
Indigenous and Tribal Populations, established in Title 5, section 12004-J, subsection 19, 
shall adopt rules governing the use and application of the fund. The fund receives all money 
paid under subsection 2, paragraph G.
6. Rulemaking. The commission shall adopt rules to implement this section. Rules 
adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2‑A.  The rules must include procedures for monitoring, measuring and 
enforcing ongoing compliance by responsible entities with the requirements of this section.
A. The rules must require the responsible entity to provide quarterly reports to the 
commission and the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, established in Title 5, 
section 3102, regarding its compliance with the diversity, equity and inclusion plan 
required under subsection 2, paragraph B and governed by subsection 4.  Each report 
must include, but is not limited to:
(1) The total number of contracts entered into by the responsible entity in 
connection with the floating extraterritorial wind project;
(2) The total dollar amounts contracted with certified businesses for design and 
construction of the proposed floating extraterritorial wind project;
(3) The total dollar amounts paid to certified businesses for design and construction 
of the proposed floating extraterritorial wind project in connection with contracts 
described in subparagraph (2); 
(4) The total number and value of all subcontracts awarded to certified businesses;
(5) A comparison of the project status with the goals established by the responsible 
entity in accordance with subsection 4, paragraph A, subparagraph (1); and
(6) Detailed information regarding any failure to meet the goals set by the 
responsible entity including efforts that have been undertaken to achieve the goals 
and a plan to bring the project into compliance with the goals. 
B. In consultation with the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, established in 
Title 5, section 3102, the commission shall establish by rule a process for the review 
and disclosure of the quarterly reports provided by the responsible entity, including a 
mechanism for public participation and the posting of the reports on the Office of 
Policy Innovation and the Future's publicly accessible website.
Sec. 11.  35-A MRSA §3409 is enacted to read:
§3409.  Offshore wind transmission procurement
1. Transmission solicitation and procurement. The commission may enter into 
contracts for transmission service to serve offshore wind power projects procured under 
this chapter.  The commission shall conduct a competitive solicitation procurement process 
in accordance with this subsection in order to select responsible entities to provide 
transmission service for offshore wind power projects.
A. In reviewing proposals for transmission service under this section, the commission 
shall:
(1) Consider the amount of transmission capacity needed to maintain electric 
system reliability;
(2) Avoid unnecessary costs to upgrade the existing transmission grid;
(3) Seek to achieve the State's renewable energy goals under section 3210 and 
emission reduction goals under Title 38, section 576-A and section 577, subsection 
1; and
(4) Pursue demonstrable benefits for electric ratepayers and the environment.
B. The commission shall coordinate with the Governor's Energy Office, transmission 
and distribution utilities, other New England states or entities designated by those states 
and the independent system operator of the New England bulk power system or a 
successor organization in the solicitation and procurement of proposals under this 
section.
C. A responsible entity may submit a proposal in response to a solicitation conducted 
under this section as long as the transmission service proposal provides for 
transmission service for more than one offshore wind power project.
D. The commission may consider proposals that include upgrading the existing grid, 
extending the grid closer to offshore wind power resources, determining or upgrading 
optimal landfall approaches or interconnecting between offshore substations.
E. The commission may select one proposal, multiple proposals or no proposals.
F. The commission may select proposals that include federal funding in the form of a 
match, grant or loan or through ownership and operation by the Federal Government; 
cost sharing among states; or recovery of transmission costs through federal 
transmission rates, consistent with policies and tariffs of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission.
G. The commission may modify a procurement under this section, prior to selecting 
any proposal, in order to satisfy federal eligibility criteria.
2. Rules.  The commission shall adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted 
under this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 
2‑A.
Sec. 12. Adoption of rules by Public Utilities Commission establishing 
reporting requirements. No later than 120 days after the effective date of this Act, the 
Public Utilities Commission shall adopt the rules required by the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 35-A, section 3408, subsection 6.
SUMMARY
This bill does the following.
1. It establishes the Maine Offshore Wind Renewable Energy and Economic 
Development Program within the Public Utilities Commission to further the development 
and use of offshore wind energy resources in the Gulf of Maine. Under the program the 
commission is directed to: 
A. Encourage the development of extraterritorial wind power projects in the Gulf of 
Maine that are responsibly sited and advance the renewable energy and climate policies 
and economic development goals of the State;
B. Establish standards for local hiring, workforce development and safety and promote 
diversity, equity and inclusion;
C. Monitor impacts of offshore wind power projects on the marine environment; and
D. Develop the transmission infrastructure necessary for the State to expeditiously 
meet its renewable energy and climate goals using offshore wind power projects 
located in the Gulf of Maine. 
2. It directs the commission to conduct a series of competitive solicitations in order to 
select floating extraterritorial wind projects for contracts with transmission and distribution 
utilities.  
A. The first competitive solicitation must occur no later than June 1, 2025.
B. Each subsequent solicitation must occur within 24 months of a previous solicitation.
C. Each solicitation must seek proposals for not less than 600 megawatts of aggregate 
nameplate capacity of floating extraterritorial wind projects.
D. The procurement must result in contracts for projects totaling at least:   
(1) One thousand megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity, no later than 
February 1, 2030; and
(2) Two thousand, eight-hundred megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity, no 
later than February 1, 2035.
E. In conducting a solicitation and selecting floating extraterritorial wind projects for 
contracts, the commission is required to attach specific weight to benefits to ratepayers, 
benefits to the State's economy and benefits for natural resources.
F. Proposals must include mitigation plans for impacts on wildlife, fisheries and the 
marine environment;  a diversity, equity and inclusion plan; a project labor agreement; 
a preconstruction stakeholder engagement plan; a plan for consultation with federally 
recognized Indian tribes who may be affected; payment of an amount per megawatt of 
capacity to the Renewable Ocean Energy Trust established within the Department of 
Marine Resources; and payment of an amount per megawatt of capacity to the newly 
created Justice Fund.  
3. It provides that an application for a submerged lands lease or easement in connection 
with an offshore wind power project selected for a contract must be charged an annual 
operating fee based on the electricity generated using a certain federal formula. It also 
requires the applicant to demonstrate that it has fully executed or will execute a labor peace 
agreement with a bona fide labor organization that actively represents or seeks to represent 
employees working for and providing services in connection with the offshore wind power 
project. 
4. It provides that when the Shore and Harbor Management Fund expends money for 
the purpose of constructing improvements in connection with an offshore wind power 
project selected for a contract, the grant of any such funds must be conditioned upon the 
recipient's agreement to conform to the requirements applicable to assisted projects under 
Title 26, chapter 15.  It also amends Title 26, chapter 15 to clarify that such projects are 
considered assisted projects for purposes of that chapter.
5. It authorizes the commission to enter into contracts for transmission service to serve 
offshore wind power projects; the commission must conduct a competitive solicitation 
procurement process in order to select entities to provide the transmission service.