An Act To Further Energy Independence for the State
Sec. 1. 2 MRSA §9, sub-§2-A, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. MM, §2 and affected by §26, is amended to read:
Sec. 2. 2 MRSA §9, sub-§3, ¶C, as amended by PL 2011, c. 400, §1, is further amended to read:
(1) Beginning in 2015, the update to the plan must:
(a) Be submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters;
(b) Address the association between energy planning and meeting the greenhouse gas reduction goals in the state climate action plan pursuant to Title 38, section 577. The director shall consult with the Department of Environmental Protection in developing this portion of the plan;
(c) Include a section devoted to wind energy development, including:
(i) The State's progress toward meeting the wind energy development goals established in Title 35-A, section 3404, subsection 2, including an assessment of the likelihood of achieving the goals and any recommended changes to the goals;
(ii) Examination of the permitting process and any recommended changes to the permitting process;
(iii) Identified successes in implementing the recommendations contained in the February 2008 final report of the Governor's Task Force on Wind Power Development created by executive order issued May 8, 2007;
(iv) A summary of tangible benefits provided by expedited wind energy developments, including, but not limited to, documentation of community benefits packages and community benefit agreement payments provided;
(v) A review of the community benefits package requirement under Title 35-A, section 3454, subsection 2, the actual amount of negotiated community benefits packages relative to the statutorily required minimum amount and any recommended changes to community benefits package policies;
(vi) Projections of wind energy developers' plans, as well as technology trends and their state policy implications;
(vii) Recommendations, including, but not limited to, identification of places within the State's unorganized and deorganized areas for inclusion in the expedited permitting area established pursuant to Title 35-A, chapter 34-A and the creation of an independent siting authority to consider wind energy development applications; and
(d) Include a description of activities undertaken pursuant to paragraph H.
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may report out legislation by February 1st of each odd-numbered year relating to the content of the plan. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters may make recommendations regarding that legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy matters.
Sec. 3. 2 MRSA §9, sub-§3, ¶C-1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. H, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 4. 2 MRSA §9, sub-§3, ¶H, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 656, Pt. C, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. 5. 38 MRSA §578, as amended by PL 2005, c. 144, §1, is further amended to read:
§ 578. Progress evaluation
By January 1, 2006 and by that date every 2 years thereafter, the department shall evaluate the State's progress toward meeting the reduction goals specified in section 576, review the cost-effectiveness of the actions taken toward meeting the reduction goals and shall amend the action plan as necessary to ensure that the State can meet the reduction goals. The department shall submit a report of its evaluation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters by January 1, 2006 2016 and by that date every 2 years thereafter. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters is authorized to report out legislation relating to the evaluation to the second regular session of any Legislature. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may make recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters regarding that legislation. Starting no earlier than January 1, 2008, the department may recommend to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters that the reduction goals specified in section 576 be increased or decreased.
Sec. 6. 38 MRSA §579, first ¶, as amended by PL 2007, c. 608, §3, is further amended to read:
The department may participate in the regional greenhouse gas initiative as described in the climate action plan required in section 577 under chapter 3-B. The commissioner and the members of the Public Utilities Commission are authorized to act as representatives for the State in the regional organization as defined in section 580-A, subsection 20, may contract with organizations and entities when such arrangements are necessary to efficiently carry out the purposes of this section and may coordinate the State's efforts with other states and jurisdictions participating in that initiative, with respect to:
Sec. 7. PL 2007, c. 661, Pt. A, §8, as amended by PL 2009, c. 642, Pt. A, §9, is repealed.
Sec. 8. 2013 biennial update to the comprehensive energy plan. For the year 2013, the plan to reduce the use of oil in all sectors of the economy under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 2, section 9, subsection 5 serves as the biennial update to the comprehensive energy plan required under Title 2, section 9, subsection 3, paragraph C.
Sec. 9. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
Administration - Environmental Protection 0251
Initiative: Allocates funds for administrative costs related to consulting with the Governor's Energy Office on the development of a new comprehensive state energy plan.
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
All Other
|
$506 | $675 |
 |
|
|
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL | $506 | $675 |
Air Quality 0250
Initiative: Provides funding for a half-time Environmental Special IV position and related administrative expenses to consult with the Governor's Energy Office in developing an analysis of the interaction between energy planning and greenhouse gas reduction goals and to assist with an analysis of wind energy development, including permitting issues.
| GENERAL FUND | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
|
0.500 | 0.500 |
|
Personal Services
|
$29,561 | $42,073 |
|
All Other
|
$1,415 | $1,887 |
|
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $30,976 | $43,960 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF | ||
| DEPARTMENT TOTALS | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
GENERAL FUND
|
$30,976 | $43,960 |
|
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
|
$506 | $675 |
|
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $31,482 | $44,635 |