Energy

signed · Maine · Senate Apr 13, 2026

LD 32: An Act To Repeal The Laws Regarding Net Energy Billing

This bill ends Maine's net energy billing program, which allowed residential and commercial solar customers to receive bill credits for excess electricity they sent back to the grid. It repeals all existing rules governing this program (including sections 3209-A, 3209-B, and 3209-C) and explicitly prohibits the Public Utilities Commission from requiring utilities to offer net energy billing in the future. The change directly affects current and future solar customers who previously relied on this billing method for compensation. It shifts Maine's policy away from compensating solar generators for exported energy toward a different framework for distributed generation.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals net energy billing program that provided credits for solar excess power, removing financial incentive for residential/commercial solar adoption.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Energy

signed · Maine · House Mar 9, 2026

LD 343: An Act To Direct The Public Utilities Commission To Seek Informational Bids Regarding Small Modular Nuclear Reactors In The State

This bill requires Maine's Public Utilities Commission to annually request informational bids for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) by October 1st each year. SMRs are defined as reactors under 350 megawatts, NRC-licensed, and capable of on-site construction or transport. The bids must include costs, location, timeline, and operational details - though they are non-binding and used only to inform potential future contracts. The Commission must submit annual reports to the Legislature's energy committee starting in 2026, and the bill terminates once the state accepts a bid for reactor establishment.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates annual informational bids for SMRs (nuclear energy), promoting exploration of nuclear power as part of Maine's energy infrastructure and production options.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 1934: An Act To Promote Responsible Outdoor Lighting

LD 1934 requires public entities in Maine (like towns, schools, and state agencies) to install or replace outdoor lighting that meets specific standards starting October 1, 2026. It limits brightness to 125% of recommended levels, mandates fully shielded fixtures for bright lights, bans nonessential lighting (like decorative signs or holiday lights) after 10 PM, caps color temperature at 3,000 kelvins, and restricts light trespass near protected areas to 0.1 lux. The bill directly affects how public facilities illuminate streets, parks, and buildings, aiming to reduce light pollution and energy waste. Key provisions include requiring shielded fixtures for lights over 1,000 lumens and ensuring sports lighting confines most light to the field area.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates energy-efficient lighting standards (brightness limits, shielded fixtures) to reduce unnecessary energy consumption and light pollution.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReduces light pollution and energy waste via strict lighting standards, protecting habitats and conserving resources per bill's requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

failed · Maine · House Jun 13, 2025

LD 1321: An Act To Reform Net Energy Billing By Establishing Limitations On The Programs' Duration And Compensation

LD 1321 reformulates Maine's net energy billing program for solar and renewable energy systems. It limits new residential and small commercial systems to 20 kilowatts after November 2025 (with limited exemptions), caps shared ownership to 10 customers per project, and restricts individuals to owning no more than 5 systems. The bill sets a hard end date of December 31, 2045, or 20 years from a system's agreement date, whichever comes first. It also requires that renewable energy credits generated must be sold within Maine and adjusts compensation rates based on historical utility rates with annual 2.25% increases. This directly affects residential and small commercial customers with solar installations participating in net energy billing.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill imposes caps on system size (20kW), ownership limits (10 customers), and a 2045 end date, restricting renewable energy program expansion and growth.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Energy

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failed · Maine · Senate Jun 10, 2025

LD 371: An Act To Expand Hydroelectric Development By Removing The 100-Megawatt Cap

LD 371 removes a 100-megawatt capacity limit for hydroelectric generators, allowing larger projects to qualify as renewable energy sources. This directly affects hydroelectric developers seeking to build or expand facilities, as they will no longer face the previous size restriction. The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection to make approval decisions within 6 months of receiving complete applications and mandates public engagement through at least one community meeting. Additionally, it clarifies that approved projects may operate at full nameplate capacity, subject to existing environmental and fish passage requirements. These changes aim to streamline development while maintaining regulatory safeguards.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRemoves 100-megawatt cap on hydroelectric projects, enabling larger renewable energy infrastructure development and explicitly advancing hydro as renewable energy source.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves 100-megawatt cap on hydroelectric projects, enabling larger renewable energy developments and explicitly qualifying them as renewable sources, advancing clean energy expansion.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

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signed · Maine · Senate Jun 10, 2025

LD 197: Resolve, To Direct The Governor'S Energy Office To Conduct A Study Regarding The Future Of Electric Transmission Infrastructure In The State

LD 197 requires Maine's Governor's Energy Office to study the state's future electric transmission infrastructure needs. The study must examine current permitting processes, best practices from other states, future renewable energy integration, available rights-of-way, and emerging technologies like grid-enhancing tools. The office must coordinate with state agencies and a stakeholder group - including utilities, environmental departments, and landowners - and submit a report by September 1, 2026. The report may inform future legislative proposals but does not mandate immediate infrastructure changes.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates study of renewable energy integration and grid infrastructure, supporting future clean energy expansion through transmission planning.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 1063: An Act To Require Competitive Procurement Of Electricity From Generators Fueled By Municipal Solid Waste In Conjunction With Recycling

LD 1063 requires Maine's Public Utilities Commission to direct investor-owned electric utilities to competitively bid for contracts to purchase electricity and renewable energy credits from generators using municipal solid waste (trash) in combination with recycling. The bill mandates a competitive solicitation by November 1, 2025, for up to 35 megawatts of power, with contracts requiring pricing below 7 cents per kilowatt-hour and terms of 5-15 years. Only generators that pay Maine state excise, income, property, and sales taxes qualify for these contracts. This policy directly affects utilities (who must procure the power) and qualifying waste-to-energy generators (who must meet tax requirements to participate).

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires competitive procurement of renewable energy from municipal solid waste generators, promoting waste-to-energy as a renewable resource under Maine's clean energy framework.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates renewable electricity from waste-to-energy with recycling, reducing landfill use and promoting clean energy sources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

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failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 830: An Act To Protect Maine'S Scenic Beauty By Requiring Solar Panel Fields To Be Hidden From View

LD 830 requires solar energy developments in Maine to be concealed from view using a barrier like trees, bushes, or fencing that hides the panels from adjacent properties. The Department of Environmental Protection must verify this concealment before approving any new solar project. This bill directly affects solar developers, who must design projects with such barriers, and the Department, which gains authority to enforce this requirement during approvals.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyMandates visual barriers for solar projects, increasing development costs and complexity, which restricts renewable energy deployment rather than promoting it.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Energy

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failed · Maine · House May 29, 2025

LD 342: An Act To Include Nuclear Power In The State'S Renewable Portfolio Standard

This bill amends Maine's renewable energy law to include electricity generated by new nuclear power plants (constructed after January 1, 2025) as a qualifying renewable resource. It directly affects competitive electricity providers in Maine, who must meet renewable energy requirements under the state's portfolio standard. The key change adds new nuclear plants to the definition of "renewable capacity resource" in the law, allowing them to count toward compliance. This applies only to plants built after 2025, not existing nuclear facilities. The bill does not alter current renewable energy standards for existing sources like wind or solar.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly expands Maine's RPS to include new nuclear plants as renewable resources, directly advancing renewable energy compliance requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

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failed · Maine · House Apr 17, 2025

LD 735: An Act To Protect Sand Dunes On Sears Island And To Establish Criteria For Legislation Regarding Land Development

LD 735 protects Sears Island's coastal sand dunes by requiring state agencies to obtain certification from an indigenous lands protection committee before authorizing any development on the island. This committee, composed of representatives from five Maine tribes and a gubernatorial appointee, must confirm proposed development areas do not contain sacred indigenous sites. The bill repeals prior laws permitting a wind terminal project and a conservation plan for a specific 10-acre parcel, and establishes a two-thirds vote requirement for any land development legislation conflicting with EPA regulations, with sponsorship limited to legislators from the affected district.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals prior law permitting wind terminal project, blocking renewable energy development per bill's explicit language on wind terminal repeal.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProtects coastal sand dunes via development restrictions, conserving natural resources and preventing harm to sensitive ecosystems.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Energy

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