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MaineLD 1868132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)Senate

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

Sponsored By: Mark W. Lawrence (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

ALTERNATIVE ENERGYALTERNATIVE ENERGY - PLANNING

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

Payment timing for energy contracts

Contracts under the long‑term procurement law pay suppliers only after the promised capacity, energy, or credits are delivered, with limited exceptions in law. If your contract is with the Efficiency Maine Trust, up to 20% can be paid at the start. The rest is paid only after installation is shown and verified by the Trust’s measurement and verification rules. If your contract is not with the Trust, you get paid only after work is verified; no upfront payments are allowed.

Credit trading and backstop fees

Suppliers may meet portfolio rules by using renewable or clean energy credits when the commission finds a reliable trading system exists. An alternative compliance payment (ACP) option is available as a backstop. The commission sets ACP rates each year and publishes them by January 31. ACPs are capped at $50 for subsections 3‑A, 3‑B, 3‑C, and 3‑D, and $10 for subsection 3. ACP money from subsections 3, 3‑A, 3‑B, and 3‑D funds low‑income energy assistance. ACP money from subsection 3‑C goes to the Thermal Energy Investment Fund for incentives and loans.

Maine sets 2040 clean power targets

By January 1, 2040, 90% of Maine’s retail electricity sales must be renewable and 10% must be clean. Class IA power ramps up to 50% of supplier portfolios in 2040, with steps like 40% in 2030. A new Class III (clean) share starts at 1% in 2031 and reaches 10% in 2040. Class III rules do not apply to sales under contracts or standard‑offer deals that are in effect on September 30, 2025 until those deals end. Starting March 31, 2031 and every two years, the commission can pause future Class III increases. It must pause if more than 10% of obligations are met by alternative compliance payments three years in a row. After at least one year, increases may resume at no more than one percentage point per year.

Defines clean resources and credits

The law defines a Class III "clean" resource. Power must be deliverable to New England or the Maritimes and be one of: Class I/IA, nuclear or hydro with required fish passage, or near‑zero emissions certified by DEP and the Governor’s Energy Office. A clean energy credit is a tradable unit of power from an eligible Class III resource. DEP and the Governor’s Energy Office set technical rules to certify and verify these resources and credits. Clean energy credits now count in green power supply, and "clean resource" is added to the list of eligible capacity resources.

More info on green power choices

The commission informs customers about renewable and clean power and how to buy it. It may create a Maine brand or logo but cannot favor one resource over another. Certified green power and certified renewable or clean credit providers may place inserts in utility bills to explain their offers. Providers must pay for printing and postage, and the utility must cooperate.

Regional clean power buying tools

The commission can team with other states to buy transmission capacity, capacity resources, or energy credits using long‑term contracts when expected benefits to Maine ratepayers exceed costs. Investor‑owned utilities must sell or handle purchased credits or capacity as the commission directs. Utilities must pay less for clean energy credits than they receive when reselling them. The commission can update long‑term contracting and resource adequacy rules in Chapter 316; these are routine technical rules.

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. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 386

    6/20/2025

  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

  • Amendment C-A (S-356), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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