An Act to Direct the Public Utilities Commission to Seek
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0343
Sponsors: PAUL
Amends: 35-A MRSA §124

Legislative Document
No. 343
H.P. 243
House of Representatives, February 3, 2025
An Act to Direct the Public Utilities Commission to Seek 
Informational Bids Regarding Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in 
the State
Received by the Clerk of the House on January 30, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PAUL of Winterport.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ALBERT of Madawaska, CAMPBELL of Orrington, 
DRINKWATER of Milford, FOSTER of Dexter, HYMES of Waldo, MCINTYRE of Lowell, 
SOBOLESKI of Phillips, Senator: HARRINGTON of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §124 is enacted to read:
§124.  Requests for proposals for establishment of small modular nuclear reactor
1.  Small modular nuclear reactor or modular reactor defined.  As used in this 
section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "small modular nuclear reactor" or 
"modular reactor" means a nuclear reactor that:
A. Has a rated generating capacity of no more than 350 megawatts;
B.  Is capable of being constructed and operated at a single site on its own or in 
combination with one or more nuclear reactors; and
C.  Is required to be licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
2.  Requests for proposals for information.  By October 1st of each year, the 
commission shall issue a request for proposals soliciting informational bids regarding the 
establishment of a small modular nuclear reactor in the State.  The informational bids must 
include the costs of establishing a modular reactor in the State, either through manufacture 
on site or transport into the State, the proposed location of a modular reactor, the time 
needed to establish a modular reactor in the State, the annual operational costs of a modular 
reactor and any other information the commission determines necessary.  The bids are not 
binding on the State or the person submitting the bid but may be used to inform and develop 
a contract for the establishment of a modular reactor in the State. 
3.  Annual report.  Beginning in 2026, by January 15th annually, the commission shall 
submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy 
and utility matters a report regarding the informational bids received by the commission 
pursuant to its requests for proposals made pursuant to subsection 2.  The joint standing 
committee may report out legislation based on the report in the same legislative session in 
which the report is received.
4.  Termination.  This section is repealed when the State accepts a bid for the 
establishment of a small modular nuclear reactor. The commission shall notify the Revisor 
of Statutes when the State accepts a bid for the establishment of a small modular nuclear 
reactor.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to annually issue a request for 
informational bids for the establishment in the State of a small modular nuclear reactor, 
which is a nuclear reactor that has a rated generating capacity of no more than 350 
megawatts, is capable of being constructed and operated at a single site on its own or in 
combination with one or more nuclear reactors and is required to be licensed by the United 
States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  The requests are for information only, including 
the timing for establishing a modular reactor and the cost, location and annual operating 
costs of a modular reactor, and are not binding on the State or the person submitting the 
information but may be used in developing a contract.  The commission is required to make 
an annual report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
energy and utility matters detailing the informational bids received. The provisions of this 
legislation are repealed when the State accepts a bid for the establishment of a small 
modular nuclear reactor. The commission is required to notify the Revisor of Statutes when 
the State accepts a bid for the establishment of a small modular nuclear reactor.