Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Ensure a Just and
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1420
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: LAWRENCE

Legislative Document
No. 1420
S.P. 576
In Senate, April 1, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Ensure a Just and 
Equitable Energy Transition for Maine's Workforce
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 Senator: TIPPING of Penobscot, Representatives: GEIGER of Rockland, 
KESSLER of South Portland.
Sec. 1.  Commission established. Resolved:  That the Commission to Ensure a 
Just and Equitable Energy Transition for Maine's Workforce, referred to in this resolve as 
"the commission," is established.
Sec. 2.  Membership. Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
commission consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, including a 
member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
2. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature;
3. Three public members, one of whom is a member of a labor organization that 
represents workers in the energy industry, one of whom is a member of an environmental 
organization and one of whom represents the interests of the renewable energy industry, 
appointed by the President of the Senate;
4. Three public members, one of whom has professional expertise in conducting peer-
reviewed research regarding energy transition issues, one of whom resides in the First 
Congressional District and one of whom resides in the Second Congressional District, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House;
5. One member representing the Office of the Governor, appointed by the Governor;
6. One member representing the Public Utilities Commission, appointed by the chair 
of the Public Utilities Commission; and
7. One member representing the Maine Apprenticeship Council, appointed by the chair 
of the Maine Apprenticeship Council.
Sec. 3.  Chairs. Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair 
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission.
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for 
the commission to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5.  Duties; meetings. Resolved:  That the commission is authorized to meet 6 
times and shall:
1. Review and evaluate the State's current energy workforce, including compensation 
levels and benefits that are provided for workers in the energy industry;
2. Consider the current workforce demands of the State's energy industry and how best 
to meet the needs of energy consumers, including the number and types of jobs needed to 
achieve the State's energy policy and goals;
3. Consider the current compensation levels, including benefits, associated with the 
types of jobs needed to meet the State's energy policy and goals;
4. Review any current efforts to ensure individuals employed in the State's energy 
industry experience a just and equitable transition to existing and potential future jobs in 
the energy industry, including efforts to mitigate potential losses in compensation and 
benefits, establish a career crosswalk of transferable skills and certifications and address 
new or supplemental training needs;
5. Consider the economic impacts that the energy transition has on low-income 
ratepayers, including but not limited to strategies to mitigate economic hardship to 
low-income ratepayers;
6. Consider the benefits of a well-compensated workforce in the State as the benefits 
pertain to careers that help the State meet its energy policy and goals; and
7. Examine how a coordinated and holistic statewide effort to ensure a just and 
equitable energy transition for individuals employed in the State's energy industry could 
benefit from the establishment of a state entity, a state framework or a coordinated effort 
by the State dedicated to that purpose and how such an entity, framework or coordinated 
effort could also help meet the needs of employers in the energy industry.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance. Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission, except that 
Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or 
special session.
Sec. 7.  Report. Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, no later than 
February 1, 2026, the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology and the Joint Standing Committee on 
Labor. The joint standing committees may each report out a bill based upon the report to 
the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Commission to Ensure a Just and Equitable Energy 
Transition for Maine's Workforce.