Energy

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.

LD 444 repeals Maine's legally established renewable energy consumption goals for electricity, removing specific targets from state law. This directly affects utilities, energy developers, and the Maine Public Utilities Commission, which previously had to evaluate projects based on meeting these goals. The bill eliminates requirements in sections 3210 and 3210-I that mandated proposals support the state's renewable energy targets. Key provisions include deleting references to "renewable energy goals" from evaluation criteria for transmission projects and offshore wind program administration (section 35), though the offshore wind program itself remains unchanged.