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 · Senate Jul 1, 2025

LD 556: An Act To Preserve Heating And Energy Choice By Prohibiting A Municipality From Prohibiting A Particular Energy System Or Energy Distributor

LD 556 prevents Maine municipalities from banning specific safe, commercially available heating or energy systems (like oil, propane, natural gas, or renewable options) that residents or businesses choose for their own use, including for motor vehicles. It also stops towns from restricting the use of a chosen energy distributor (such as a propane or oil supplier) for installing, connecting, or servicing these systems. The bill does not override existing licensing requirements for energy providers or prevent municipalities from promoting certain energy types or using public funds to support them. This law directly affects homeowners, businesses, and local governments by preserving energy choice within existing safety and regulatory frameworks.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPrevents municipalities from banning renewable energy systems and distributors, enabling consumer choice in energy options including renewables.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

signed · Maine · House Jun 17, 2025

LD 810: An Act Regarding The Approval Of Transmission Lines

LD 810 simplifies the approval process for high-impact electric transmission lines proposed by state agencies in Maine. It states that such lines, when proposed under a legal requirement or by an agency with specific authority to do so, are automatically deemed approved by the legislature without needing a separate vote. This applies only to transmission lines initiated by state agencies, not private companies or other entities. The bill modifies Maine law (Title 35-A, section 3132, subsection 6-C) to eliminate the need for a majority legislative approval step in these specific cases. It directly affects state agencies managing infrastructure projects, streamlining their path for required transmission line development.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyStreamlines approval for state agency transmission lines, removing barriers to energy infrastructure development without favoring specific energy sources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

failed · Maine · Senate Jun 16, 2025

LD 1138: An Act To Reduce Pollution Associated With Transportation In Alignment With The State'S Climate Action Plan

LD 1138 requires Maine's Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority to conduct greenhouse gas emissions and traffic impact assessments before approving new road expansions or capacity increases (like adding lanes or improving roadways). Starting July 1, 2026, these assessments must project 20-year emissions, net changes in vehicle miles traveled, and account for "induced demand" (increased driving from new road capacity). Projects found inconsistent with Maine's climate targets must be redesigned, include mitigation measures, or be canceled. The bill directly affects transportation planning decisions for state road projects and aims to align infrastructure development with the state’s climate action goals.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires emissions assessments for road projects to align with climate targets, reducing transportation-related fossil fuel use and supporting clean energy transition goals.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires emissions assessments for road projects to align with climate targets, preventing increased pollution from infrastructure expansions.95% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRestricts new road expansions by mandating emissions assessments to align with climate goals, preventing projects inconsistent with Maine's climate targets.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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 No ✗ Opposes Energy

Track

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

Track

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

Track