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MaineLD 1868132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

An Act to Advance a Clean Energy Economy by Updating Renewable and Clean Resource Procurement Laws

Sponsored By: Mark W. Lawrence (Democratic)

Became Law

ALTERNATIVE ENERGYALTERNATIVE ENERGY - PLANNING

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New clean power buying and planning

The PUC can team with other states to buy transmission, capacity, energy, or credits when benefits to Maine ratepayers exceed costs. Investor‑owned utilities must sell or handle procured energy, capacity, RECs, and CECs as the PUC directs. Contracts generally pay only after delivery; contracts with the Efficiency Maine Trust may pay up to 20% at the start, with the rest after measurement and verification. Each year by January 1, the PUC reports last‑year procurements and a 12‑month plan with RFP dates and resource types. The law broadens what counts as a capacity resource, repeals an older procurement paragraph, and lets the PUC adopt routine technical rules to implement these changes.

Compliance payments cap costs and fund aid

Providers can make alternative compliance payments (ACPs) instead of buying credits for Class I, Class IA, Class II, Class III, and thermal obligations. The PUC sets ACP rates each year by January 31, with caps of up to $50 for most new classes and up to $10 for the legacy class. ACP money from most classes goes to low‑income energy assistance under section 3214(2). ACP money for thermal goes into the Thermal Energy Investment Fund for incentives and low‑ or no‑interest loans to businesses, towns, schools, and nonprofits for new thermal projects.

Rising clean power mix with safeguards

By January 1, 2040, 90% of Maine retail electricity sales must be renewable and 10% must be clean. Providers must meet rising targets: Class IA reaches 50% in 2040 and after, and Class III starts at 1% in 2031 and rises 1 point each year to 10% in 2040 and after. Supply contracts or standard offers in effect on September 30, 2025 are exempt from the new Class III rules until they end. Starting March 31, 2031 and every two years, the PUC can pause future Class III increases if investment is too low or if reliance on credits or ACPs burdens customers; it must pause if ACPs exceed 10% of obligations for three straight years. The PUC must report by March 31, 2027 and every year after on Class III status, lost capacity, any pauses, and ways to spur needed investment.

Certified green power info on bills

The PUC informs customers about renewable and clean power choices, including certified REC and clean credit products. It can create and register a Maine brand or logo but cannot favor one resource over another and acts only as funding allows. Providers may include certified green offers and credit products in bill inserts, with PUC certification. Providers pay the cost of bill inserts and must work with the utility.

New clean power class and credits

The law creates a new Class III "clean" resource. It includes Class I/IA renewables, certain nuclear or hydro that meet fish-passage rules, and very low‑emission generation certified by DEP and the Governor’s Energy Office. It creates clean energy credits that represent power from these resources. Providers can use renewable and clean credits to comply when a reliable tracking system exists, and community projects that elect the multiplier count RECs at 150% of their output. DEP and the Governor’s Energy Office set clean certification and verification rules, and the PUC sets other definitions. Investor‑owned utilities must pay less when they buy clean credits than they receive when they sell them.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark W. Lawrence

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 226 • No: 200

Senate vote • 6/17/2025

COMMIT

Yes: 17 • No: 17

Senate vote • 6/17/2025

ENACTMENT

Yes: 20 • No: 15

Senate vote • 6/17/2025

ENACTMENT

Yes: 19 • No: 16

House vote • 6/16/2025

Enactment

Yes: 77 • No: 68

Senate vote • 6/13/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 19 • No: 16

House vote • 6/13/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 74 • No: 68

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 386

    5/1/2026

  2. Taken from the table by the President Motion by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock to COMMITT Bill and accompanying papers to ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY. FAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 598 Yeas 17 - Nays 17 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ENACTMENT. Roll Call Ordered Taken from the table by the President Subsequently the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 610 Yeas 20 - Nays 15 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 On motion by Senator BENNETT of Oxford the Senate RECONSIDERED their actions whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENACTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 612 Yeas 19 - Nays 16 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Subsequently, the Bill was PASSED TO ENACTED in concurrence.

    6/17/2025Senate

  3. On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ENACTMENT in concurrence. Unfinished Business

    6/16/2025Senate

  4. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. ROLL CALL NO. 515(Yeas 77 - Nays 68 - Absent 4 - Excused 2)Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/16/2025House

  5. Reports READ.On motion of Representative SACHS of Freeport, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 500(Yeas 74 - Nays 68 - Absent 7 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-356) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-356).In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/13/2025House

  6. Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator LAWRENCE of York The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-356) PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 533 Yeas 19 - Nays 16 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-356) READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-356), .Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence.

    6/13/2025Senate

  7. On motion by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE OF EITHER REPORT Unfinished Business

    6/12/2025Senate

  8. Received by the Secretary of the Senate on May 1, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2

    5/1/2025Senate

Bill Text

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