Maine 2017 solar, energy legislative proposals

The 128th Maine Legislature's first session kicked off last month in Augusta.  Over 2,000 legislative requests or proposed bills were submitted for the 2017 session, most of which will eventually be "printed" or released to the public as bills or "Legislative Documents."  Energy items on this session's docket are expected to include a variety of bills addressing solar energy.  While most of these bills have yet to be printed, energy-related bills that have been printed so far include items related to protecting the grid against geomagnetic disturbances and electromagnetic pulses, consumer protection in the form of limits retail electricity rates, and retooling the Governor's energy office:

• LD 255, An Act To Implement Electric Grid Reliability Recommendations: as drafted, this concept draft proposes directing the Maine Public Utilities Commission to take certain actions regarding geomagnetic disturbances and electromagnetic pulses on the State’s electric grid, including installation of equipment to enable grid monitoring and protection. 
• LD 259, An Act To Limit Rates Charged by Competitive Electricity Providers: as drafted, this bill would prohibit competitive electricity providers from charging a residential consumer a rate for generation service that is higher than the applicable standard-offer service rate.
• LD 260, An Act to Create the Maine Energy Office: as drafted, among other changes this bill would revamp the Governor's Energy Office into a Commissioner-led office, with funding from Efficiency Maine Trust.

Beyond the bills that have been printed so far, a list published by the Legislative Information Office of bill titles organized by subject matter shows 12 legislative requests relating to solar energy:

• LR 19, An Act To Encourage and Support Solar Energy for Use in the Private and Public Sectors 
• LR 34, An Act To Grow Maine's Economy through Increased Solar Power Generation
• LR 179, An Act To Enhance the Commercial Development of Solar Energy
• LD 394, An Act To Modernize Maine's Solar Power Policy and Encourage Economic Development
• LR 402, An Act To Promote the Development of Solar Energy in Maine
• LD 529, An Act To Modernize Maine's Solar Power Policy and Encourage Economic Development
• LR 1071, An Act To Protect and Expand Access to Solar Power in Maine
• LR 1367, An Act Regarding Solar Power for Farms and Businesses
• LR 1424, An Act To Advance Locally Owned Solar Energy Systems
• LD 1425, An Act To Modernize Community Solar Policy
• LR 1856, An Act Regarding Large-scale Community Solar Procurement
• LD 1944, An Act To Address Solar Power in Maine 

The Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology will hold public hearings on bills referred to it over the course of the session.