Energy

LD 1358 removes restrictions that previously prevented investor-owned utility companies (like Maine's electricity providers) and their affiliates from owning electricity generation facilities, such as power plants. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish rules ensuring affiliates operate independently, preventing unfair favoritism toward them, and protecting electricity customers (ratepayers). It also eliminates a prior rule requiring affiliate-owned generation to have had a long-term power contract by July 1, 2017, to participate in such contracts. This amendment changes the legal framework for utility affiliates' ownership of generation assets within Maine's electricity market.

LD 1210 requires Maine's Department of Environmental Protection to consider the state's renewable energy, decarbonization, and economic development goals when reviewing hydropower projects. The bill mandates that the department weigh the environmental and economic benefits of hydroelectric generation against potential impacts on wildlife habitat and aquatic life, allowing project approval or certification even if such impacts occur. This applies to both water quality certifications under federal law and project permits, with specific provisions for maintaining historic water levels at existing facilities. The law directly affects hydropower developers seeking permits and the department's approval process. It shifts the decision-making framework to prioritize state energy policy alongside environmental protections.