Maine considers energy, climate planning

Here's a roundup of some of the proposed Maine legislation calling for changes to how the state plans for its future with respect to energy and climate matters.

• LD 658, Resolve, To Direct a Plan for Energy Independence for Maine: This resolve directs the Governor's Energy Office to adopt a 10-year energy independence plan, including conservation and renewable energy strategies, for the State to become a net exporter of energy by 2030.
• LD 797, An Act To Limit Greenhouse Gas Pollution and Effectively Use Maine's Natural Resources: This bill would require Maine to reduce its net annual greenhouse gas emissions to at least 80% below the 1990 net annual greenhouse gas emissions level, by January 1, 2050. It directs the Department of Environmental Protection to update Maine's climate action plan and to evaluate Maine's progress toward these emissions reductions.
• LD 818, An Act To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: This bill provides Maine to reduce net annual greenhouse gas emissions to at least 80% below the 1990 net annual greenhouse gas emissions level, by January 1, 2030. It directs the Department of Environmental Protection to establish interim net annual emissions levels and to monitor and report on gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions, and to update the State's climate action plan and evaluate the State's progress toward meeting the reduction levels. It requires the Board of Environmental Protection to establish greenhouse gas emission standards for individual sources or categories of sources. 
• LD 893, An Act To Create an Updated Unified Maine Climate Action Plan: This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection, working with the Maine Interagency Climate Adaptation Work Group and the University of Maine, to update the Maine Climate Action Plan developed in 2004 by the department. It requires the department and the work group to convene stakeholders to evaluate and include in the updated plan mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• LD 950, An Act To Develop a State Energy Plan To Provide a Pathway to an Energy Portfolio Free of Fossil Fuels: This bill proposes to develop an energy plan to provide a pathway to an energy portfolio free of fossil fuels.
• LD 1282, An Act To Establish a Green New Deal for Maine: Among other measures, this bill would create a task force charged with creating a plan to advance environmental sustainability, renewable energy and economic growth for Maine. The bill would require the plan to include a renewable resources strategy to achieve 80% reliance on renewable resources for electricity supply by 2040; a job training strategy, including a training program to prepare workers for green jobs; and a residential energy strategy that provides incentives for installation of solar energy systems and heat pumps.