Opinion ID: 4516935
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State Renewable Energy Generation Goals

Text: [¶34] Section 3132(6) also requires the Commission to consider Maine’s renewable energy generation goals. The Commission found that the NECEC project would not adversely impact those goals. [¶35] NextEra posits that the Commission erred as a matter of law in relegating the consideration of the State’s renewable energy generation goals to a weighing of benefits and costs. NextEra asserts that the Commission misinterpreted the relevant statutes and made erroneous factual findings in light of that misinterpretation.15 15 NextEra also contends that the Commission failed to make findings regarding the NECEC’s high-voltage direct-current design, as opposed to an alternating-current design, and asserts that the Commission could have conditioned the CPCN on an alternative NECEC design that would use alternating current technology. This argument fails for myriad reasons, one of which is that the 19 [¶36] As set forth in the relevant statutory provisions,16 the Commission determined that the renewable energy generation goals to be considered include the promotion of adequate, reliable, and diverse sources of electricity supply, and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission also concluded that the Maine Solar Energy Act, 35-A M.R.S. §§ 3471-3474 (2018), and the Maine Wind Energy Act, 35-A M.R.S. §§ 3401-3404 (2018), bear on the consideration of renewable energy generation goals by implementing a state policy of encouraging appropriately-sited wind and solar energy development, and therefore must be considered as part of the analysis of renewable energy generation goals pursuant to section 3132(6). [¶37] The Commission considered the goals of renewable energy generation as part of its section 3132(6) analysis. In doing so, the Commission found that the NECEC project will result in incremental hydroelectric NECEC project as proposed with the direct-current design was selected as the winning bid and a separate proposal using an alternating-current design was not. Additionally, the Commission found that the NECEC project, as designed with direct current technology, would not hinder Maine’s renewable energy goals and may even facilitate renewable energy development. These findings are supported by substantial record evidence. 16 See 35-A M.R.S. § 3210(1) (2018); 38 M.R.S. § 631(1) (2018). The Commission explained that Maine’s renewable-energy portfolio standards are governed by 35-A M.R.S. § 3210(1), which states: In order to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity for Maine residents and to encourage the use of renewable, efficient and indigenous resources, it is the policy of this State to encourage the generation of electricity from renewable and efficient sources and to diversify electricity production on which residents of this State rely in a manner consistent with this section. 20 generation; will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region; will not hinder Maine’s progress towards meeting its statutory renewable energy portfolio requirements and solar and wind energy goals; may benefit future renewable energy generation projects as a result of the upgrades that ISO New England (ISO-NE)17 has already identified as necessary to the interconnection of new renewable energy generation in western and northern Maine; will have no impact on any proposed renewable energy generation projects in Maine that have a better interconnection queue position;18 and has the potential to facilitate renewable generation in Maine by providing for additional transfer capacity at no cost to future generation developers. These factual findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record. See Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm’n, 2016 ME 19, ¶ 10, 132 A.3d 183. [¶38] Section 3132(6) requires only that the Commission take into account state renewable energy generation goals—it does not specify how the ISO-NE is the regional transmission organization authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory 17 Commission to operate New England’s power grid, administer New England’s wholesale-electricity markets, and ensure that New England’s electricity needs are met through power-system planning. See Our Three Critical Roles, ISO New England, https://www.iso-ne.com/about/what-we-do/threeroles (last visited March 12, 2020). 18 “The ISO New England Interconnection Queue lists the current status of requests for the interconnection of new or uprated (increased capacity) generating facilities in New England.” Interconnection Request Queue, ISO New England, https://www.iso-ne.com/system-planning/ transmission-planning/interconnection-request-queue/ (last visited March 12, 2020). Queue position “determines order for the purposes of interconnection study and cost allocation.” Id. 21 Commission is to consider those goals. Here, the Commission made specific factual findings and considered Maine’s renewable energy generation goals in light of those findings as part of its overall public need analysis. The Commission’s conclusions regarding the NECEC project and Maine’s Renewable Energy Goals were reasonable and consistent with the law. See Pine Tree Tel. & Tel. Co. v. Pub. Utils. Comm’n, 634 A.2d 1302, 1304 (Me. 1993) (“The Commission's decision will not be disturbed if it results from a reasonable exercise of discretion and is supported by substantial evidence in the record.”).