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 No ✓ Supports 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 Yes ✓ Supports Energy

signed · Maine · Senate Jun 20, 2025

LD 1868: An Act To Advance A Clean Energy Economy By Updating Renewable And Clean Resource Procurement Laws

LD 1868 requires Maine's Governor's Energy Office to conduct competitive bidding every two years starting in 2026 to purchase renewable and clean energy, primarily affecting investor-owned utilities and electric ratepayers. The bill establishes a process where the office proposes resource types, timelines, and evaluation criteria, seeking public input before finalizing solicitations. Utilities must negotiate contracts with selected bidders, subject to Public Utilities Commission approval, and a new annual assessment on utility revenues funds the Energy Office's procurement activities. Proposals are evaluated based on cost-effectiveness, emissions reduction benefits, economic development contributions, environmental impact mitigation, and project viability.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly mandates competitive renewable energy procurement to 'advance a clean energy economy,' updating laws for clean resource adoption per title and summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates competitive renewable energy procurement, advancing clean energy goals and reducing fossil fuel reliance per its title and summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

failed · Maine · House Jun 18, 2025

LD 1394: An Act To Support Maine'S Electric Vehicle Adoption Goals By Providing An Exclusion For Electric Vehicles From Certain Requirements Of The Right To Repair Law

LD 1394 exempts electric vehicles from certain right-to-repair law requirements in Maine, directly affecting EV manufacturers selling vehicles in the state. The bill creates an exclusion if manufacturers meet two conditions: (1) the vehicle's telematics system complies with federal security/privacy standards, and (2) they meet an annual electric vehicle sales threshold set by the Department of Environmental Protection. This threshold accounts for Maine's climate action plan goals and market conditions, requiring annual manufacturer certifications for approval. The exemption aims to support Maine's EV adoption targets by reducing regulatory barriers for manufacturers. The Department of Environmental Protection must annually report on approved certifications and the policy's impact.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill exempts EVs from right-to-repair rules to meet Maine's climate action plan goals, directly advancing EV adoption as part of energy policy.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill exempts EVs from right-to-repair if meeting DEP-set sales threshold tied to Maine's climate action plan, directly supporting EV adoption for climate goals.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill exempts EVs from right-to-repair requirements, limiting regulatory scope for technology repair access despite federal security/privacy compliance condition.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

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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 No ✓ Supports Energy

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failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 741: An Act To Increase Preparedness For Solar Power Adoption In Maine

LD 741 requires Maine's Technical Building Codes and Standards Board to update the state's building code to include solar energy standards from Appendix CB of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code for all new commercial buildings. This affects developers and builders constructing new commercial properties after the effective date. The bill exempts buildings that already secured all permits before July 1, 2026, and any projects receiving funding from the Maine State Housing Authority. The key change ensures new commercial construction incorporates solar-ready infrastructure from the start, without mandating solar panel installation.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates solar energy standards in commercial building codes to advance renewable adoption, directly promoting solar infrastructure compliance for new developments.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires solar energy standards in new commercial buildings, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel reliance per bill's mandate.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

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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 Yes ✓ Supports 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 No ✓ Supports 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 No ✓ Supports Energy

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failed · Maine · House Mar 27, 2025

LD 444: An Act To Lower Energy Costs By Repealing The Law Setting Out The State'S Goals For Consumption Of Electricity From Renewable Resources

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.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals Maine's renewable energy consumption goals, removing mandatory targets for utilities and developers, weakening state clean energy standards per bill summary and subjects.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Energy

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