An Act to Increase Adoption of Solar Power in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1232
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: SKOLD, BRENNER, BOYLE, GEIGER, GERE, GRAMLICH, JAUCH, RANA, SAYRE, WARREN
Amends: 25 MRSA §2375

Legislative Document
No. 1232
H.P. 780
House of Representatives, March 21, 2023
An Act to Increase Adoption of Solar Power in Maine
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SKOLD of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator BRENNER of Cumberland and
Representatives: BOYLE of Gorham, GEIGER of Rockland, GERE of Kennebunkport, 
GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, JAUCH of Topsham, RANA of Bangor, SAYRE of 
Kennebunk, WARREN of Scarborough.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2375 is enacted to read:
§2375.  Solar-ready building
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Solar-ready building" means a building that includes a solar-ready zone.
B. "Solar-ready zone" means a section of a roof or overhang of a building designated 
and reserved for a solar photovoltaic or solar thermal system and that is at least 40% 
of the roof area.  For the purposes of this paragraph, roof area is calculated as the 
horizontal area minus the area covered by a skylight, an occupied roof deck or 
vegetative roof area and any mandatory access or setback required by a code under this 
chapter or the 2018 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code, Appendix 
CA or successor model code.
2.  Solar-ready building.  A newly constructed building of at least 25,000 square feet 
must be a solar-ready building. This subsection does not apply to a building for which the 
construction permit has been declared complete by the appropriate inspection authority 
under section 2373 on or before December 31, 2023. 
3.  Rules.  The State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules that incorporate the provisions of 
the 2018 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code, Appendix CA or successor 
model code to carry out the purposes of this section.  Rules adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are routine technical rules under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules for interconnection 
procedures of small generators to transmission and distribution utilities.  The 
Public Utilities Commission shall amend its rules regarding small generator 
interconnection procedures by allowing a certified, inverter-based facility that has a power 
rating of up to 100 kilowatts on radial or spot network systems to interconnect to a 
transmission and distribution utility under the commission's level 1 screening criteria and 
process established by the commission's rule Chapter 324.
SUMMARY
This bill requires new buildings of at least 25,000 square feet to reserve 40% of 
applicable roof space for future installation of a solar energy system. This bill also requires 
the Public Utilities Commission to amend its interconnection rules to allow small electric 
power generators of up to a 100-kilowatt power rating to interconnect to a transmission and 
distribution utility under the commission's current level 1 screening criteria and process.