An Act to Allow Certain Distributed Energy Resources to
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1860
Sponsors: LAWRENCE, GUERRETTE

Legislative Document
No. 1860
S.P. 730
In Senate, May 5, 2025
An Act to Allow Certain Distributed Energy Resources to 
Participate in the State's Net Energy Billing Program
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on May 1, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LAWRENCE of York.
Cosponsored by Representative GUERRETTE of Caribou and
Representative: BABIN of Fort Fairfield.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the State is committed to sourcing 100% of its electric supply from 
renewable energy by 2040; and
Whereas, in 2019, the State enacted a net energy billing program under which eligible 
facilities must meet specific completion criteria, including achieving commercial operation 
dates by December 31, 2024; and
Whereas, the net energy billing program provides a good-cause exemption if an entity 
experienced external delays outside of its control; and
Whereas, Ameresco Solar, LLC and Nordic Sun Energy, LLC independently built 
distributed generation resources in Ellsworth and Presque Isle, respectively; and
Whereas, Ameresco Solar, LLC's 1.99-megawatt project missed the deadline set forth 
in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3209-A, subsection 9 due to external 
delays caused by Versant Power's lengthening procurement lead time for its 
interconnection equipment after Ameresco began constructing the project; and
Whereas, Nordic Sun Energy, LLC's 3-megawatt project experienced external delays 
in Versant Power's transmission impact study that prevented execution of its 
interconnection agreement and the start of its initial impact study as required to satisfy the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3209-A, subsection 7, paragraphs A to E; and
Whereas, both projects were constructed and mechanically complete in advance of 
the December 31, 2024 deadline to achieve commercial operation and immediate operation 
of the projects is necessary to achieving the State's goal of sourcing 100% of its electricity 
from renewable sources by 2040; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Eligible to participate.  Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3209-A, subsections 7 and 9, or any prior 
eligibility determination, the distributed generation resources located in Ellsworth at 889 
Bucksport Road and at interconnection queue number 148 and in Presque Isle at 14 State 
Road at interconnection queue number 214 are eligible to participate in the net energy 
billing program under Title 35-A, sections 3209-A and 3209-B, beginning on the date that 
each project commences commercial operation.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes 2 distributed generation resources to participate in the State's net 
energy billing program, despite the projects' failure to meet certain participation criteria.