An Act to Advance a Clean Energy Economy by Updating
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1868
Sponsors: LAWRENCE
Amends: 2 MRSA §9, 35-A MRSA §116, 35-A MRSA §3210, 35-A MRSA §3210-C, 35-A MRSA §3210-K, 35-A MRSA §3212-B

Legislative Document
No. 1868
S.P. 738
In Senate, May 5, 2025
An Act to Advance a Clean Energy Economy by Updating 
Renewable and Clean Resource Procurement Laws
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.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  2 MRSA §9, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8.  Procurement of renewable and clean resources.  Beginning January 1, 2026, and 
every 2 years thereafter, the office shall conduct one or more competitive solicitations 
during the following 2-year period to procure energy or associated environmental attributes 
or a combination of both from renewable and clean resources through long-term contracts 
if the office determines procurement is necessary to achieve the emissions reduction and 
renewable and clean energy goals of the State and to meet reasonably expected growth in 
electricity demand and reliability needs.  Unless another entity is designated as the primary 
responsible entity or the office has not made a determination in accordance with the office's 
comprehensive state energy plan under subsection 3, paragraph C within any 4-year period 
after January 1, 2027, the office is the primary entity responsible for initiating and 
conducting new procurements for renewable and clean resources, which may include 
energy storage as well as related transmission.
A. If the office determines one or more competitive solicitations are necessary based 
on the comprehensive state energy plan required pursuant to subsection 3 and related 
analysis, the office shall initiate solicitations in order to select resources for contracts 
under this subsection.  The office shall propose the resource types and amounts, 
timetables and methods for solicitations of long-term contracts using a competitive 
bidding process, and the office shall seek public comment on a draft proposal, in 
addition to other means such as requests for information, prior to publishing any final 
solicitation.
B. The office may hire expert consultants necessary to assist in the development of the 
solicitation and evaluation of proposals.
C. A solicitation may be coordinated with other state agencies or transmission and 
distribution utilities and with other New England states or entities designated by those 
states.
D. The office may coordinate with other entities, including, but not limited to, state 
agencies, the Office of the Public Advocate, expert consultants, transmission and 
distribution utilities, other New England states and the independent system operator of 
the New England bulk power system, in the evaluation and selection of proposals under 
this subsection.  In evaluating proposals, the office shall determine if proposals:
(1) Provide cost-effective clean energy generation to electric ratepayers in the State 
and the region over the term of the contract;
(2) Provide the benefits of renewable or clean energy generation or transmission 
toward meeting the State's emissions reduction goals; 
(3) Contribute to the State's economic and workforce development goals;
(4) Where possible, avoid, minimize or mitigate environmental impacts and 
impacts to low-income populations; and
(5) Adequately demonstrate project viability within a commercially reasonable 
time frame.
E. Transmission and distribution utilities shall enter into negotiations with bidders 
whose proposals are selected by the office for a term sheet.  Negotiated contracts must 
be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission for review and approval.
F. If the Public Utilities Commission determines that a proposed contract under 
paragraph E is consistent with the term sheet approved by the office, is commercially 
reasonable and adequately protects ratepayers, the commission shall approve the 
contract and order transmission and distribution utilities to enter into the contract.
G. The office may require bidders to pay a reasonable and nonrefundable bidding fee 
to defray the office's administrative costs associated with the solicitation.  Any bidding 
fee must be set forth in the announcement for the applicable solicitation.
Sec. 2.  2 MRSA §9, sub-§9 is enacted to read:
9.  Rulemaking.  The office may adopt rules as necessary for the proper administration 
of this section.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3.  35-A MRSA §116, sub-§10 is enacted to read:
10.  Governor's Energy Office special assessment.  Each investor-owned 
transmission and distribution utility subject to assessment under this section is subject to 
an additional annual assessment on its intrastate gross operating revenues to produce 
sufficient revenue for expenditures of the Governor's Energy Office for contracted services 
and administrative costs associated with the procurement of renewable and clean resources 
pursuant to Title 2, section 9, subsection 8.  Revenue produced from the assessments must 
be used only for purposes specified in this section.
A. The Governor's Energy Office shall submit its budget recommendations, using a 
zero-based budgeting process or other process or method directed by the State Budget 
Officer, as part of the unified current services budget legislation in accordance with 
Title 5, sections 1663 to 1666.  The assessments and expenditures provided in this 
section are subject to legislative approval.  The Governor's Energy Office shall make 
an annual report of its planned expenditures for the year and on its use of funds in the 
previous year.  The Governor's Energy Office may also receive other funds as 
appropriated by the Legislature or from other available resources.
B. Funds that are not expended at the end of a fiscal year do not lapse but must be 
carried forward to be expended for the purposes specified in this section in succeeding 
fiscal years.
Sec. 4.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. I, §1, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Policy.  In order to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity for Maine 
residents and to encourage the use of renewable, clean, efficient and indigenous resources, 
it is the policy of this State to encourage the generation of electricity from renewable, clean 
and efficient sources and to diversify electricity production on which residents of this State 
rely in a manner consistent with this section.
Sec. 5.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§1-A, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 477, §1, is 
amended to read:
B.  By January 1, 2050, 100% 2040, 90% of retail sales electricity in the State will 
come from renewable resources and 10% of retail sales electricity in the State will 
come from clean resources.
Sec. 6.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§2, ¶A-4 is enacted to read:
A-4.  "Class III resource" or "clean resource" means a Class I resource, a Class IA 
resource or a source of electrical generation that:
(1) Generates power that can physically be delivered to the control region in which 
the New England Power Pool, or its successor as approved by the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, has authority over transmission, or to the Maritimes 
Control Area; and
(2) Has been certified by the Governor's Energy Office in accordance with an 
emissions-based definition adopted by rule or order by the Department of 
Environmental Protection.
Sec. 7.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§2, ¶A-5 is enacted to read:
A-5.  "Clean energy credit" means a tradable instrument that represents an amount of 
electricity generated from an eligible Class III resource.
Sec. 8.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2019, c. 477, §1, is further 
amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
The commission shall establish by rule or order standards and procedures necessary to 
implement any definition under this subsection, including but not limited to certifications 
and performance and verification standards necessary for purposes of paragraphs B‑4, D 
and E, and excluding paragraphs A-4 and A-5.  Rules adopted under this subsection are 
routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 9.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2019, c. 477, §1, is further 
amended by enacting at the end a new last blocked paragraph to read:
The Department of Environmental Protection, in coordination with the Governor's Energy 
Office, shall establish by rule or order standards and procedures necessary to implement 
the definition under paragraph A-4 and verification standards necessary for purposes of 
paragraph A-5.  Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 10.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§3-B, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 477, §1, is 
amended to read:
A.  Except as provided in paragraph B, 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.;
(12)  Forty-one percent for the period from January 1, 2031 to December 31, 2031;
(13)  Forty-two percent for the period from January 1, 2032 to December 31, 2032;
(14)  Forty-three percent for the period from January 1, 2033 to December 31, 
2033;
(15)  Forty-four percent for the period from January 1, 2034 to December 31, 2034;
(16)  Forty-five percent for the period from January 1, 2035 to December 31, 2035;
(17)  Forty-six percent for the period from January 1, 2036 to December 31, 2036;
(18)  Forty-seven percent for the period from January 1, 2037 to December 31, 
2037;
(19)  Forty-eight percent for the period from January 1, 2038 to December 31, 
2038;
(20)  Forty-nine percent for the period from January 1, 2039 to December 31, 2039; 
and
(21)  Fifty percent for the period from January 1, 2040 to December 31, 2040 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.
Sec. 11.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§3-D is enacted to read:
3-D.  Portfolio requirements; Class III resources.  Portfolio requirements for Class 
III resources are governed by this subsection. 
A. Each competitive electricity provider must, in addition to meeting the other portfolio 
requirements of subsections 3, 3-A, 3-B and 3-C, demonstrate in a manner satisfactory 
to the commission that it has purchased Class III renewable energy credits in an amount 
at least equal to the following percentages of its portfolio of supply sources for retail 
electricity sales in this State: 
(1) For calendar year 2031, 1%; 
(2) For calendar year 2032, 2%; 
(3) For calendar year 2033, 3%; 
(4) For calendar year 2034, 4%; 
(5) For calendar year 2035, 5%; 
(6) For calendar year 2036, 6%; 
(7) For calendar year 2037, 7%; 
(8) For calendar year 2038, 8%; 
(9) For calendar year 2039, 9%; and 
(10) For calendar year 2040, and each year thereafter, 10%. 
Retail electricity sales pursuant to a supply contract or standard-offer service 
arrangement executed by a competitive electricity provider that is in effect on 
September 30, 2025 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. 
Class I or 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 31, 2031 and every 2 years thereafter the commission determines 
that investment in Class III 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 clean 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 III 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 III 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, 2027 and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit 
a report regarding the status of Class III 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 III resources available to meet the 
portfolio requirements under paragraph A, documentation of the loss of any existing 
clean 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 III resources. 
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. 12.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2011, c. 283, §1, is further 
amended to read:
7.  Information.  To the extent that funding is available, the commission shall inform 
electricity consumers in this State of the benefits of electricity generated in this State using 
renewable and clean resources and of the opportunities available in this State to purchase 
electricity that is generated using those resources, including, but not limited to, the green 
power offer and other green power supply products and renewable energy credit and clean 
energy credit products certified under section 3212‑A 3212-B.  The commission may not 
promote any renewable or clean resources over others.  The commission may apply for, 
receive and expend grant money from the United States Department of Energy and other 
government agencies for this purpose.  The commission may create or cause to be created 
a brand or logo to identify Maine renewable and clean resources, including the green power 
offer and other green power supply products and renewable energy credit and clean energy 
credit products certified under section 3212‑A 3212-B, to consumers.  The commission 
shall register any mark or logo created pursuant to this subsection with the United States 
Patent and Trademark Office or in accordance with Title 10, chapter 301‑A, or both.  Any 
brand or logo created pursuant to this subsection may only be used in accordance with the 
purposes of this subsection as approved by the commission.
Sec. 13.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2019, c. 477, §1, is further 
amended to read:
8.  Credit trading.  The commission shall allow competitive electricity providers to 
satisfy the portfolio requirements of subsections 3, 3‑A, 3‑B and, 3‑C and 3-D through the 
use of renewable energy credits and clean energy credits if the commission determines that 
a reliable system of electrical attribute trading exists. When renewable energy credits are 
used to satisfy the portfolio requirements of subsections 3 and 3‑A, the value of a renewable 
energy credit for electricity generated by a community-based renewable energy project, as 
defined in section 3602, that is participating in the community-based renewable energy 
pilot program established in section 3603 and elects the renewable energy credit multiplier 
under section 3605 is 150% of the amount of the electricity.
Sec. 14.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2023, c. 306, §1 and c. 
361, §2, is further amended to read:
9.  Alternative compliance payment.  The commission shall allow competitive 
electricity providers to satisfy the portfolio requirements for Class I resources under 
subsection 3‑A, Class IA resources under subsection 3‑B, thermal renewable energy credits 
under subsection 3‑C and, Class II resources under subsection 3 and Class III resources 
under subsection 3-D through an alternative compliance payment mechanism in 
accordance with this subsection.
A.  The commission shall set the alternative compliance payment rates by rule and shall 
publish the alternative compliance payment rates by January 31st of each year. In 
setting the rates, the commission shall take into account prevailing market prices, 
standard-offer service prices for electricity, reliance on alternative compliance 
payments to meet the requirements of subsections 3, 3‑A, 3‑B and, 3‑C and 3-D and 
investment in Class I, Class IA and, Class II and Class III resources and thermal 
renewable energy credits in the State during the previous calendar year.
(1)  The alternative compliance payment rate for the requirements under 
subsections 3‑A, 3‑B and, 3‑C and 3-D may not be greater than $50.
(2)  The alternative compliance payment rate for the requirement under subsection 
may not be greater than $10.
B.  The commission shall collect alternative compliance payments to meet the 
requirements of subsections 3, 3‑A and, 3‑B and 3-D made by competitive electricity 
providers and shall use all funds collected under this paragraph to provide financial 
assistance for low-income households in accordance with section 3214, subsection 2.
C.  The commission shall collect alternative compliance payments to meet the 
requirements of subsection 3‑C made by competitive electricity providers and shall 
deposit all funds collected under this paragraph in the Thermal Energy Investment 
Fund established under section 10128, subsection 2 to be used to fund incentives and 
low-interest or no-interest loans to businesses, municipalities, educational institutions 
and nonprofit entities in the State for the installation of new thermal energy-derived 
projects.
The commission shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted to establish 
the alternative compliance payment rates governed by paragraph A, subparagraphs (1) and 
(2) routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 15.  35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§11, as amended by PL 2023, c. 321, §1, is 
further amended to read:
11.  Report; renewable energy credit portfolio requirements.  By March 31, 2024 
and every 3 years thereafter, the Governor's Energy Office shall submit a report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy matters based on a 
review, conducted in consultation with the commission, of the status and impacts of the 
implementation of the portfolio requirements under subsections 3, 3‑A, 3‑B and, 3‑C and 
3-D.  The review must be completed through a public process and must include 
consideration of impacts of these renewable portfolio requirements on energy prices and 
assessment of benefits, including, but not limited to, on greenhouse gas emissions and the 
economy of the State.  After reviewing the report required under this subsection, the 
committee may report out legislation regarding renewable portfolio requirements.
Sec. 16.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 293, §1, 
is further amended to read:
A.  "Capacity resource" means any renewable capacity resource, nonrenewable 
capacity resource, clean resource or interruptible, demand response or energy 
efficiency capacity resource.
Sec. 17.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§1, ¶A-2 is enacted to read:
A-2.  "Clean energy credit" has the same meaning as in section 3210, subsection 2, 
paragraph A-5.
Sec. 18.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§1, ¶A-3 is enacted to read:
A-3.  "Clean resource" has the same meaning as in section 3210, subsection 2, 
paragraph A-4.
Sec. 19.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§3, ¶C, as amended by PL 2017, c. 134, §2, 
is further amended to read:
C.  Any available renewable energy credits associated with capacity resources 
contracted under paragraph A.  The price paid by the investor-owned transmission and 
distribution utility for the renewable energy credits must be lower than the price 
received for those renewable energy credits at the time they are sold by the investor-
owned transmission and distribution utility; and
Sec. 20.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§3, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 134, §2, is 
amended to read:
D.  Transmission capacity, capacity resources, energy or renewable energy credits 
pursuant to a regional procurement process in conjunction with other states.; and
Sec. 21.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§3, ¶E is enacted to read:
E.  Clean energy credits associated with clean resources. The price paid by the investor-
owned transmission and distribution utility for the clean energy credits must be lower 
than the price received for those clean energy credits at the time they are sold by the 
investor-owned transmission and distribution utility.
Sec. 22.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2023, c. 516, Pt. B, 
§49, is further amended by amending the last blocked paragraph to read:
By January 1st of each year, the commission shall submit a report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy and utilities matters on the 
procurement of transmission capacity, capacity resources, energy and credits, renewable 
energy credits and clean energy credits in the preceding 12 months under this subsection, 
resources procured under section 3210-K and deep-water offshore wind energy pilot 
projects under Public Law 2009, chapter 615, Part A, section 6, as amended by Public Law 
2013, chapter 369, Part H, sections 1 and 2 and chapter 378, sections 4 to 6. The report 
must contain information, including, but not limited to, the number of requests for 
proposals by the commission for long-term contracts, the number of responses to requests 
for proposals pursuant to which a contract has been finalized, the number of executed term 
sheets or contracts resulting from the requests for proposals, the commission's initial 
estimates of ratepayer costs or savings associated with any approved term sheet, actual 
ratepayer costs or savings for the previous year associated with any procurement, the total 
ratepayer costs or savings at the time of the report and the megawatt-hours, renewable 
energy credits or capacity produced or procured through contracts. The report must include 
actual ratepayer costs or savings for the previous year associated with any contract executed 
under the Community-based Renewable Energy Act. The report must also include a plan 
for the succeeding 12 months pertaining to the procurement of capacity resources, energy 
and credits, renewable energy credits and clean energy credits, including dates for requests 
for proposals, and types of resources to be procured.
Sec. 23.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:
3-A.  Regional coordination.  The commission may coordinate with one or more states 
to procure, through long-term contracts or other mechanisms, transmission capacity, 
capacity resources, energy credits, renewable energy credits or clean energy credits.
Sec. 24.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2009, c. 518, §5, is 
further amended to read:
7.  Disposition of resources.  An investor-owned transmission and distribution utility 
shall sell capacity resources, energy or renewable energy credits or clean energy credits 
purchased pursuant to subsection 3 or 3-A or take other action relative to such capacity 
resources, energy or credits, renewable energy credits or clean energy credits as directed 
by the commission.
Sec. 25.  35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2009, c. 518, §6, is 
further amended to read:
9.  Contract payments.  Except as provided in paragraphs A and B, contracts for 
capacity resources, related energy or credits, renewable energy credits or clean energy 
credits entered into pursuant to this section must provide that payments will be made only 
after contracted amounts of capacity resources, related energy or renewable energy credits 
have been provided.
A.  Contracts with the Efficiency Maine Trust established in section 10103 for energy 
efficiency capacity resources and related energy entered into pursuant to this section 
may provide that up to 20% of the total payment be made at the start of the contract. 
Such contracts must provide that the remaining payments will be made only after the 
supplier has demonstrated, according to measurement and verification protocols 
specified in rules adopted by the Efficiency Maine Trust Board pursuant to section 
10105, subsection 5, that physical installations have been completed and contracted 
amounts of capacity resources and related energy have been substantiated.
B.  Contracts with any entity other than the Efficiency Maine Trust established in 
section 10103 for energy efficiency capacity resources and related energy must provide 
that payments will be made only after the supplier has demonstrated, according to 
measurement and verification protocols specified in rules adopted by the Efficiency 
Maine Trust Board pursuant to section 10105, subsection 5, that physical installations 
have been completed and contracted amounts of capacity resources and related energy 
have been substantiated.
Sec. 26.  35-A MRSA §3210-K is enacted to read:
§3210-K.  Renewable energy procurement; repowering and continued maintenance 
of existing resources
The commission shall direct investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to 
enter into one or more contracts for energy or renewable energy credits from eligible Class 
IA resources for the purpose of improving the long-term viability of an existing facility in 
accordance with this section. 
1.  Eligible Class IA resource; definition.  As used in this section, "eligible Class IA 
resource" means a Class IA resource, as defined in section 3210, subsection 2, paragraph 
A-3, that began commercial operations on or prior to June 30, 2019. 
2.  Competitive procurement.  The commission shall conduct a competitive 
solicitation in order to select eligible Class IA resources for contracts under this section. 
A. Through competitive solicitation under this section, the commission shall procure 
an amount of energy or renewable energy credits from eligible Class IA resources that 
is equal to 2% of the retail electricity sales in this State for the period from January 1, 
2023 to December 31, 2023, as determined by the commission.  The commission shall 
initiate the competitive solicitation by December 31, 2025.
B. In conducting a solicitation and selecting Class IA resources for contracts under this 
section, the commission shall consider the benefits to ratepayers and the benefits to the 
State's economy, including those benefits to the economy listed in section 3210-G, 
subsection 1, paragraph C, subparagraph (2), divisions (a) to (h).
C. If the commission concludes that a solicitation is not competitive or, following a 
review of bids received, that a bid or bids are not in the public interest, the commission 
may make a determination not to award a contract.
3.  Contract terms.  A contract entered into pursuant to this section may not be for 
more than 10 years, unless the commission finds a contract for a longer term to be prudent.
Sec. 27.  35-A MRSA §3212-B, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 40, §1, is 
amended to read:
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Green power supply" means electricity or renewable energy credits or clean energy 
credits for electricity generated from renewable capacity resources as defined in section 
3210, subsection 2, paragraph B‑3, including electricity generated by community-
based renewable energy projects as defined in section 3602, subsection 1.
A-1.  "Clean energy credit" has the same meaning as in section 3210, subsection 2, 
paragraph A-5.
B.  "Renewable energy credit" has the same meaning as in section 3210, subsection 2, 
paragraph B‑2.
Sec. 28.  35-A MRSA §3212-B, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 40, §1, is 
amended to read:
2.  Certification; information in bill inserts.  Information regarding the availability 
of the green power offer and of green power supply products and, renewable energy credit 
products and clean energy credit products that are certified by the commission may, at the 
option of the provider of the offer or the product and with the cooperation of the 
transmission and distribution utility, be presented through inserts in customer bills issued 
by transmission and distribution utilities. The costs of the inserts, including but not limited 
to printing and postage costs, are the responsibility of the provider of the offer or product. 
The commission may define the criteria for certification of green power supply products 
and, renewable energy credit products and clean energy credit products by order or by rule, 
and the commission may limit the criteria for certification for consumer protection and 
eligibility verification purposes.  Rules adopted to implement this subsection are routine 
technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 29. Public Utilities Commission; rules. The Public Utilities Commission 
may initiate rulemaking to amend its rule Chapter 316: Long-term Contracting and 
Resource Adequacy to implement the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3210-C, 
subsection 3-A.  Notwithstanding Title 35-A, section 3210-C, subsection 10, rules adopted 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Governor's Energy Office to conduct one or more competitive 
solicitations every 2 years beginning January 1, 2026 to procure energy or associated 
environmental attributes or a combination of both from renewable and clean resources 
through long-term contracts if the office determines procurement is necessary to achieve 
the emissions reduction and renewable and clean energy goals of the State and to meet 
reasonably expected growth in electricity demand and reliability needs.  This bill amends 
the state goals for consumption of electricity from renewable resources so that by January 
1, 2040, 90% of retail sales electricity in the State will come from renewable resources and 
10% of retail sales electricity in the State will come from clean resources.  This bill gives 
additional authority to the Public Utilities Commission to coordinate with other states to 
procure, through long-term contracts or other mechanisms, transmission capacity, capacity 
resources, energy, renewable energy credits or clean energy credits.  This bill directs the 
Public Utilities Commission to initiate a competitive solicitation for energy or renewable 
energy credits from Class IA resources for the purpose of improving the long-term viability 
of an existing facility.  This bill also establishes a regular schedule of competitive 
procurements for renewable and clean resources.